Random Finds Along The Path

During my wog today, I found a spoon left beside a mailbox. I left it, although I pondered why it was there. Was someone out for a walk, and the spoon got too heavy? Did someone get it in the mail, and was so disgusted with it that they immediately threw it down? Was the mailman eating his lunch, and it just fell out of his truck?

A few miles later, I found a box of sidewalk chalk beside a bus stop at Lipscomb University. Again, I wondered why it was there. Was it not allowed on the bus? Was it waiting for a school bus? Were these the tools of preschool graffiti artists?

Since I had no real answers, I decided to make up my own. First, the spoon's story:

Pamela wondered if this would be the day. She was eating her cereal that morning, when she heard the mail truck stop. Pamela peered out the window and watched as Postman Pete placed the mail in the box. Slowly, Pamela opened the door and walked outside, taking her cereal bowl and spoon with her. She tried to look casual as she gingerly walked to the mailbox. Would it be there? Was this the day? Pamela slowly opened the door and peered inside. She pulled out the envelope that bore her name, and took out the folded paper. She read those fateful words, "You have been accepted..." She was in! Now her life could begin. She ran back to the house, dropping her spoon in the process. She didn't even notice the missing spoon until days later, when she collected the mail again. She started to pick it up, but stopped, because she knew that every time she saw that spoon, she would remember that wonderful day her life started anew.

Now the chalk's story:

It all started as a sociology experiment. Jon and Hank placed the chalk at the bus stop, and sat a few yards away, to record any responses. After an hour, all their notes reflected was the number of people who walked past without even a glance. They decided to leave to get a snack, believing that there would be no responses in the rain that had developed. When they returned, the chalk was gone. They looked around, but saw no one carrying a box of chalk. What they had missed was the woman who had just gotten off work. She was waiting for the bus when she saw the chalk. Looking around, she didn't see anyone, so she picked up the chalk and took it home with her. That evening, she took her young daughter outside, and they spent an hour under the streetlight drawing pictures and laughing.

Just two little made-up stories about random items. But it was fun to imagine happy endings.