Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "It's No Use Crying over Spilt Milk" (without using the actual phrase or literal exampl (02/07/08)
TITLE: The Discovery of a Cover (with an Accompanying Undercover Recovery)
By Beth Muehlhausen
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All night strong winds had multiplied;
With morning’s light I peeked outside.
What damages might greet me there?
Astounded, I could only stare.
The hot tub on the deck was bald!
“The cover’s gone – could it be mauled?”
Running outside I scanned the yard,
Looked here and there – searched really hard.
No luck this way, or over there –
Where was it – lost? This was not fair!
Then with a glance I gained a clue
That might show me what next to do.
Up on the roof was evidence –
Antennae arms that made no sense.
“Surely the wind did not do THAT.
Something impaled them – bent them flat.”
I figured, as I viewed this sight,
The cover must have taken flight!
Flew way up high, became a flag,
Atop the house, like a huge rag.
Miraculous! Something so large!?
I ran around to the front yard.
There folded neatly in the street …
Our hot tub lid lay … indiscreet.
It seemed to say, “You let things be –
Did not lock up – NOW LOOK AT ME!”
My wife had come; was with me now –
The only thing she said was, “WOW!”
We rushed to it like EMT’s –
Cried, “OH!” and dropped down to our knees.
It was brand new, just two weeks old.
I gasped, “A gash - beneath the fold!”
“This must be where, it stuck – a jab?”
I pictured the antenna stab.
Scratches and tears loomed everywhere;
Its innards spilled, the frame laid bare.
We moved it out of traffic’s way
Back to the house, out of harm’s way.
We stood there, feeling more than grim.
Its destiny looked awfully dim.
My wife’s eyes shone with pools of grief.
Our sadness grew, without relief.
Our own neglect had led us here –
To reap sadness; to shed a tear.
But way beyond our sad regret
We seemed consumed by panic’s net.
You see, our mess-up really hurt because
We’d thwarted a most noble cause.
The cover was a gift from one
Who cared for us – our first-born son.
Four hundred bucks was what he spent.
But now the cover had been rent!!
Our negligence could not be shunned.
We felt broken – confused and stunned.
Oh my! Had we his help betrayed?
His gen’rous love – was it assayed?
Of course that was not our intent.
But guilt still won - to an extent.
How sad! And yet, in a quick flash,
We realized our thoughts were rash.
For sure worse things could come our way
Than this mishap (for which we’d pay).
Our son’s forgiveness would be swift,
There would not be a lasting rift.
We must bounce back – there was no doubt.
No need to mourn or cry or pout.
Meanwhile, the temp was thirty-two.
We rallied fast; knew what to do.
With lightening speed we ran around,
Lured by the tub’s bub-bubbling sound.
‘Lectricity we’d burned for hours –
The negligence was fully ours.
So now to action! Rescue time!
The past is past – put it behind!
“C’mon, we kept the old lid, right?
Let’s put it on and buckle tight!”
With lesson learned, once back inside,
We reassessed our hearts; our pride.
What was the honest issue here?
Was it the cover – or our fear?
Then suddenly the truth came through.
A lesson bold, and one we knew.
Shame doesn’t take the guilt away!
Instead, our goof-ups on us prey.
We must FORGIVE to recover
Losses from the hot tub cover.
Author’s note: This is a true story - from beginning to end!
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