151. Prodigal

Probably not the best

Route that he could take

Instead of working hard and long

Destruction he did make

Irresponsible and lost

Goats ate better than he

And so he went back home again

Love set him free

150. The Hero's Fight

When heroes rise

They rule the day.

They fight the foe,

Don't run away.

They hack and leap

And swing and jump.

They fight the evil.

Win. Fist pump.

The world is safe

Another night.

They're ready for

Another fight.

But what of when

Our hero's old?

His muscles gone?

His story told?

What happens to 

the hero then,

When people say

"Remember when..."?

All heroes must

Grow old in time.

They cannot always 

stop the crime.

And though it's sad

To see them go.

We love them but 

It's time. We know.

But soon one more

Will come along.

And lead us in

Our fighting song.

New heroes rise

They rule the day.

They fight the foe,

Don't run away.

149. Boys Sounds

Trains go choo

Ghosts go boo

Cars go vroom

Drums go boom

148. The Stepmother

Cinderella wants to go to the ball. Of course I can't allow it, but I can't refuse her wish outright. The invitation was clear. Her name, there above even my own. I cannot overrule the prince's decree. But she must not leave the estate. No, it would ruin everything. If she goes, she is sure to tell of her servitude. I cannot risk that. She may be a worthless brat, but she is still mistress of this estate by law. So long as I live I will not let her take my place. 

She doesn't know, but she is one of the few. Sir Eccles was a monster. He tricked me out of what is rightfully mine. This land should be mine. This house should be mine. But no, he had to go and settle it all on his brat. And publicize it. The shame of it when the court announced that girl's name as his heir instead of mine. I flush even now at the thought of it. I was mortified. And then to find out I don't even follow on the event of her death -- what a terrible trick to play on me. 

So now I must keep up this pretense. The girl is a hermit, they think. She is mute and shy. Twice yearly they come to see that she still lives. They must come in the dead of night, I insist, so as not to send her into a fit. Oh, the trouble those visits cause. She cannot know, for she would speak and all would be lost. 

The drug is powerful. It does the work. Denise always complains that she finds cinders in her room for days afterward. But it is worth it to keep our position hear. 

But how do I keep her from the ball?

147. The Lightning Makes The Stars

When Earth was formed the sky was pure

The black held solid, The darkness sure.

The nights were calm, a quiet rest,

But blank could not bring happiness

The black of night caused friction deep

Amidst the sky that does not sleep.

An angry crack, a mighty ring,

Brought the first bright white lightning.

Across the sky the bolt arced wide

It split the heavens side to side.

It pierced the solid black of night

And where it struck, it left a light.

For out beyond the blackened space

A glorious light, a joyous place,

Lay waiting for the men of earth

To pass through life and second birth.

The anger of the skies brought fear

But those who saw the star gave cheer

For past the aches of chains and rope

They saw the peace. They lived with hope.

Each time the sky ripped loud and clear

A little star would then appear

For lightning broke the sky apart,

But left a star to lift the heart.

And now when lightning splits the sky

Don't shake with fear or sit and cry.

But think of all the light you see

Beyond the storm. God waits for thee.

146. The Maid

No one notices you when you are a servant. You are only there to do what the Royals find beneath them. That is no matter. They do not see what they do not want to see. And they do not want to see us. So we are invisible. But we are not blind.
I see Lady Gianette preparing for her betrothal. I see how she spends extra time at her mirror when Prince Edmond will be present. I see how she regards herself as the second lady of the palace. She thinks only the queen is above her.
She does not see what she does not want to see. She does not see the prince is indifferent to her. She does not see that he searches for another. She does not see that he wants more than her pretty gowns and her painted face. She does not see what this ball really was. And she does not see that he has found another to replace her.
But she will see it. They will not let her go blindly on.
The queen received the message today. "I have found her" was all the page said, but it was all the queen needed to hear. All the maids needed to hear. All I needed to hear. Lady Gianette will lose her place. I pity her. She knows nothing but her expectation to be queen. and now she will lose that. No doubt she will find some other suitor who will gladly wed her. Perhaps she will move on quickly.
Perhaps she will not. But this is Lady Gianette so she will.
She will not be blind for long.
I only hope she does not lay ruin for the new princess. And I hope that the princess will see.

145. Salute

Salute to the fallen

Salute to the free

Salute to the men

Who are braver than me

Salute to the sky

Salute to the ground

Salute to the water

And those underground

Salute to the fighter

Salute to the flier

Salute to the swimmer

The runner, the climber

Salute to the troops

Salute to the way

Salute to the freedom

Salute USA