The Mysterious Note

One day the three Mills children

All woke up with a yawn

They called out, “Mother! We’re awake!”

But Mrs. Mills was gone

They went into the kitchen

To find she’d left her coat

And there upon the counter

She’d also left a note

It didn’t say where she had gone

Or when she would return

It simply said: ten carrots bike

Red socks stuffed parrot fern

The children scratched their heads

And wondered why it had no verbs

Just what on earth could this note mean?

The children looked to Herb

Herb said, “I know! Ten carrots

Have kidnapped her on their bike

And she needs for us to save her

Using red socks and the like.”

Patricia sighed, “Oh, really, Herb.

When will you ever learn?

How could we save our mother

With red socks, a toy and ferns?”

“I’m sure it means for breakfast

We should each eat lots of carrots

Then ride our bikes, put red socks on

Plant ferns and play with parrots.”

“Hey guys, I think I’ve got it!”

Cried the littlest brother, Todd

“I’m pretty sure it’s a metaphor

For the human invention of God.”

“The words are really just random

But you’ll see that what we’ve done

Is postulate purpose and meaning

When really there is none.”

Well, Herb was still insistent

That veggies had stolen his mother

He didn’t believe his sister

And certainly not his brother

So he grabbed the items mentioned

And headed out the gate

Determined to save his mother

Before it was too late

Well, Patricia knew that she was right

So she stuffed her face with carrots.

Then rode her bike and put on socks

And went to find some parrots.

But Todd did as he always did

Ate breakfast, went to school,

Fed the dog, and did his homework

And went swimming in the pool

That night Mrs. Mills walked in the door

And gave little Todd a kiss

She saw the note on the counter

And said, “A-ha! My shopping list.”

“Now, Todd, where are the other kids?

Watching movies? Being lazy?”

And when he told her where they’d gone

She sighed, “Those kids are crazy.”