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 I held in my hand.

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

I immediately thought, this has to be wrong...
..I read on and it said, "..or at best, Gengis Khan!"

 But, I was so worried, as I'd eaten alone...
..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 went 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...
..and then it dawned on me to go check out her house.

I arrived in an hour at her tiny, white lodge...
..and noticed 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 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 hangin' 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 still puzzled about me being a barbarian,
as 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 went home and drank 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 just felt so "free"!
I'd found Ruth-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.

As I knelt down beside her, and felt the warmth of the sun...
..I recalled my strange fortune about Atilla the Hun!

I reached into my pocket, and pulled it out with my hand,
and reread it again, and I started to understand!

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