A Winter Wonder

A Wintry night and a pitiless wind did blow, This could be the night when we get the snow. Struggling under the weight of shopping bags, Got to get home before my strength flags. Turned the corner,now at the carpark, Don't like being here, it's creepy and dark. Eyes darting around, make sure I'm alone, Opened the car, was that a groan? Loaded the boot and opened the door, Then that groan I heard once more. My senses said, get in, drive away, My heart said no, you have to stay. I looked all around, nothing to see, Just an empty carpark, my car and me. I got in the car and turned on the light, There in the bushes a very sad sight. A cardboard box almost hidden from view, It was from within that I heard the mew. A cat or a dog cast out in the cold maybe, I carefully pulled the flap so that I could see. Not a cat or a dog did I see,but to my dismay, A man huddled in newspaper, freezing and grey. Tears began forming as I reached out my hand, He grasped it weakly and struggled to stand. No words passed as he got into the car, Do I take him home, it's not very far. He obviously needed hot food and drink, I needed the time on the drive home to think. The car warmed him up as we drove along, I absently started to hum an old Christmas song. In the streetlight I took a peek I saw a tear from his eye roll down his cheek, Before I knew it I pulled up at our house, I invited him in, he came as meek as a mouse. My wife looked at him then me as if to say, Who is this you have brought home today? A friend who is helpless and can he stay? A hot bath, clean clothes and a meal on the table, Soon made our visitor look much more able. In the warmth of the fire we left him sat there, We went into the kitchen,hot drinks to prepare. He can sleep in the spare my wife simply said, Take in the drink and I'll make up the bed. He's gone, I said, as she looked around, We searched the house he was not to be found. There, on the chair in front of the fire, she gasped, Was the ring she had lost in the distant past. Now you tell me what had just occurred, For the answers I get sound quite absurd. My Mum told me something years ago now,it's true, Whatever you do, will, one day, come back to you. © Dave Timperley 15/12/2017