From The Mind of Merc - Purchasing Power

Sometimes I find my mind wandering over various eclectic topics and occasionally I am inspired to write some of them down. Today I was thinking about the power of the consumer. 

Not in the sense I believe I've previously spoken about of the ridiculousness of allowing retailers to tell us what we should want but more about the impact that every purchase can collectively have on the world of which so many of us are unaware and which I feel can be best summed up in this image:

Tom & Jerry sketch

And then with an observation on a popular children's cartoon.

Tom: Come back here! I’m gonna get you! Any minute now I…
Jerry: Woah, woah, hang on a minute.
Tom: What?
Jerry: Can I ask you something?
Tom: Er.. sure I guess.
Jerry: Why do we keep doing this?
Tom: What?
Jerry: This. Why do we keep running round and round the house together with you trying to catch me.
Tom: Well, I’m a cat and you’re a mouse. Cats chase mice.
Jerry: What for?
Tom: To eat them.
Jerry: <pause> And that’s your only option, is it?
Tom: What do you mean?
Jerry: Well… have you ever heard of cat food?
Tom: What?
Jerry: Cat food. Look.
<cupboard door opens>
Tom: Well, how am I supposed to eat that? It’s in a tin.
Jerry: That’s where this thing comes in handy.
Tom: What is it?
Jerry: A tin… opener! Watch
<tin opener whirrs>
Jerry: And now we just
<Cat food slops into bowl>
Jerry: Go on. Tuck in.
Tom: <chewing> Mmm. You know, this isn’t half bad.
Jerry: Told you.
Tom: But what happens when it runs out?
Jerry: That’s ok – there’s another can here. Whoops!
<thud as the can lands on Tom’s foot>
Tom: Ahhhhh!
Jerry: Sorry, Tom. I didn’t mean to drop it on your foot.
Tom: Why you little….! I oughta…! Just you wait…
Jerry: Now Tom – let’s be reasonable about this. It was an accident. Tom? Tom! Uh-oh. Here we go again!

(For those saying that Tom and Jerry never spoke - they have been known to on occasion. For example, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsZTxWuuUlU)

The Tiger Who Came To Tea sketch - Mercorabilia

So once again my moving house has caused a delay in my uploading my latest creations but I'm gradually catching up. First, by focusing on the admittedly odd behaviour of the characters in a popular children's story.

RSPCA: Excuse me, ma’am. I’m from the RSPCA. We’ve had reports of a big cat in the area.
Mummy: I see.
RSPCA: Have you seen any big cats at all today, ma’am?
Mummy: Well, yes I have, as a matter of fact. There’s one in my house right now.
RSPCA: There’s is, ma’am?
Mummy: Yes, a tiger.
RSPCA: <pause> A tiger, ma’am?
Mummy: Yes. But don’t worry – it’s all perfectly fine. He’s only here for tea.
RSPCA: I beg your pardon, ma’am?
Mummy: For tea. You know, tea, sandwiches, biscuits, cake.
RSPCA: Do you mean to tell me, ma’am, that there is a tiger in your house right this minute  who is, as we speak, consuming various articles of food and other comestibles you happen to have in your home?
Mummy: Yes, that’s right.
RSPCA: I see, ma’am. And just what do you think will happen when you run out of the assorted tea, cake and biscuits.
Mummy: Well, he’ll just go home, I expect.
RSPCA: <pause> Are you feeling quite well, ma’am?
Mummy: Perfectly, thank you. Although to be quite honest I am a bit miffed he had to drink all the tea. I would quite have liked a cuppa myself.
RSPCA: Would you, ma’am?
Mummy: Yes.
Sophie: Mum. Mum!
RSPCA: Stand aside, ma’am – I’ll handle this. Alright – where is he? Where’s the brute?
Sophie: Over there. And he’s drunk all the water out of the taps. I won’t be able to have a bath now.
Mummy: He must have been very hungry. He’s already eaten everything in the cupboards.
RSPCA: Look out! He’s on the move! Where’s he going?
Mummy: It looks like he’s leaving.
Sophie: Bye-bye, Mr Tiger. It was lovely to meet you.
Mummy: Well, that was an experience. All over now though. Can I offer you a cup of tea?
RSPCA: Er…
Mummy: Oh, no – sorry I can’t. The tiger drank it all.
Sophie: What will do for supper, mummy?
Mummy: Oh, I’m sure your daddy will think of something.
RSPCA: Well, if that’s all, ma’am, I think I’ll be on my way now.
Mummy: Ok. Well, it was lovely meeting you too. Have a nice day.
RSPCA: You too, ma’am. The boys back at head office won’t believe this. Wait ‘til I tell them all about it. Wait ‘til I tell them about the tiger who came to tea.