My heart is pounding, my mind is blank.
I’m down to give a speech.
There has to be a better way to spend a Thursday night!
Do I have to go?
I hear you say,
“You know you do
“You can’t let them down.
“You are going to be great.”
Ah but there has to be a better way to spend a Thursday night!
What if I go blank?
What if I freeze up bad?
They’ll understand.
They’ll commiserate.
They will.
They will.
Maybe, but there has to be a better way to spend a Thursday night!
How about a board game, or poker?
Or a movie with a bag of chips?
I can’t go. I just can’t go.
I’ll be no good
I’ll fall flat on my face
And then where will I be?
Ah no! There has to a better way to spend a Thursday night!
Didn’t you hear you get a guide?
Don’t you know you are not alone?
They’ll support you.
Love you.
Cheer you all the way.
That’s their way.
It’s what they do.
I Know.
I know.
But I think I’ll just stay put on Thursday night.
Well suit yourself!
But I can’t wait, I’m all dolled up,
And raring to go.
I hear the speeches can be fun,
And the Topics session a howl.
And I sure don’t want to miss the break.
They buy in bickies did you know!
Choccy bickies and a cup of tea!
What more could you ask for on a Thursday night
Not to mention the trot to the pub and the chat and the laugh.
I sure don’t want to miss all that.
But stay put in if you like.
Wait!
Wait!
I forgot about the tea and bickies.
And finishing the night in the pub does sound fun.
Yeah I forgot about all that!
Maybe it doesn’t sound so bad after all.
And you say if I fail they’ll understand?
Who would have thought
I’m going to go to Toastmasters after all on Thursday night.
Jennifer Howlett
Greystones Club
June 2026
