The Blue Egg

It was "Show and Tell" as we had planned,
Here is Ronnie, with an egg in his hand,
A turquoise egg, that he found on the lawn,
And after recess, it was GONE!
Where could it be? It was no longer there!
We all tried to find it! This just was not fair!
It had been on the window ledge...safe in this place,
It wasn't there now.....such a disgrace!
Did anyone see it? We were amazed............
One little girl's hand was quickly raised!
"Susan was holding it, when I saw her last!"
We all looked at Susan......Yes....the whole class!
She started to cry....said that it broke in her pocket!
"Why did you take it? It wasn't for you?
Her reason was strange.....but, at least it was true!
"I've got a green budgie at home, you see".
"She's never laid eggs, so there could not be,
Babies for me to watch and admire"
"I could hold one in my hand, close to the fire!"
Her idea and actions seemed foolish to us,
And she didn't expect us to make such a fuss!
I explained very carefully, that this wouldn't give,
A new bird, because it no longer lived!
An egg must be kept warm in order to hatch,
This blue egg was cold and not a good match!
I explained to the children, that we all make mistakes,
Just one wrong motive is all that it takes!
This was a lesson about selfish intent,
No matter how tempting, the rules can't be bent!
Susan said that she was sorry and I wiped her tears,
I still see those sad eyes, after all of these years!!

At Easter, I think about something that happened long ago, in my Grade One
Classroom. Ronnie had brought a blue egg to show to the class and since it
was so fragile, we put it in an empty nest, that another child had brought
in the week before. We also had a lesson about not touching bird's nests,
for we all knew that this was wrong and we should not interfere with
nature. However, the egg arrived and no one was to touch it....just look
and respect the fact, that it belonged to Ronnie. I have changed the names
to protect the "innocent"

Pauline Banning
A6-209-98-D9

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