Jam Before Yesterday

'Jam?'

'Yes.'

'As in…Jam?'

'The same, Pooh.'

'So these are folk who are now having a tough time?'

'There's no now about it, Owl says.  It's been a while since they weren't.'

'So…jam before yesterday, then?'

'Long before some yesterday or other.'

'What does it mean?'

'What?'

'Calling them Jam?'

'Owl asked Tigger.'

'Oh…I wish I hadn't--'

'--who took a deep breath and said it means Just-About-Managing-To-Resist-The-Impulse-To-Seek-Out-The-Smug-Ticketyboos-Who-Neutralise-Problems-By-Roping-Them-With-Acronyms-And-Then-Eviscerate-Them-And-Sling-Them-In-A-Skip-At-The-Back-Of-A-Reasonably-Remote-Petrol-Station.'

'Gosh!  You and Owl must have splendid lungs.'

'So kind, Pooh.'

'Have you ever thought of trying to fly?  Like him?'

'Tigger says that, out there, I could do just that any time I like.'

'Well, there's a thing.'