The Fortune Cookie

I finished my Chinese meal, all at once
and stared at the cookies, like some sort of dunce

when I read my fortune, I did not understand
the small piece of paper that I held in my hand.

It said that my next days wouldn't be "fun",
and that my plight was to live like, Attilla the Hun;

I immediately thought, this has to be wrong...
..so I payed off the bill, and went straight to the phone.

I made my phone call, from the diner's phone booth
in search for my date for lunch, my friend Ruth.

I asked for my tea, when I stood to get up,
but, I was so worried I couldn't finish my cup !

I ran out the door and searched through the lot
but, Ruth and her car, at the diner...were not !

It then started raining, and I got a good douse !
then, it quickly dawned on me, to check out her house;

I arrived in an hour at her tiny white lodge,
and saw that her car was still parked in her garage,

I spied in each window, but all I could see
was an empty abode, 'cept her cat...Mr. "T".

I then got quite worried, with a pang of fright
but, I decided to go home, and call it a night.

The next day was worse.....I was at my wits end
I could hardly believe I had lost my good friend !

Ruth was the type to confirm a lunch date,
not leave me hanging like this...at any rate.

I searched the grocery store, and mall like a jerk;
'til I thought I had better go check out her work.

I was puzzled about my being a complete barbarian,
so I strolled to where Ruth worked, as a librarian.

Well, they hadn't seen her...she had three days off
something about having a really bad cough.

So, day two was futile...I had all but given up,
so, I chased her with whiskey, cup after cup.

Day three was much better, it put Ruth within reach
I recalled when she felt bad, she would visit the beach.

I drove for three hours, and arrived at the sand
to find Ruth still coughing...but, so nicely tanned;

I put my hands in my pockets, I felt so free
I'd found Ruth-and, Oh ! And also her fortune cookie !

I remembered I'd taken one...the day of our date
so, I gave it to her.....it wasn't too late.

I knelt down beside her, and felt the warmth of the sun
and recalled my strange fortune about Attilla the Hun;

I reached into my pocket, and pulled it out with my hand,
and re-read it again, and I started to understand;

well, I couldn't stop laughing, whilst down on one knee...
for I had gone three whole days, living "Ruthlessly"!