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
from the small piece of paper, I held in my hand.

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

I wasn't real comfortable about eating alone
but, I paid off the bill and went straight to the phone.

I placed 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 I 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 wasn't 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 went home anyway and called it a night.

The next day was worse, I was at my wits end!
I just couldn't believe I had lost my good friend!

Ruth was the type to confirm a lunch date,
she would not have left me hanging like this, at any rate.

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

I still was puzzled about my 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 her having a bad cough.

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

Day three went much better, it put Ruth within reach
I remembered when ill, Ruth would visit the beach.

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

With my hands in my pockets, I felt great and so free;
I'd finally found Ruth...and still had her fortune cookie!

I remembered I'd taken one on 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 Attila the Hun;

out of my pocket, I held the slip in my hand;
I re-read it again...and I began to understand;

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