Mildred looked through the glass. "Metal, of some kind," she said.
Frank grunted.
"Look again, Mildred," I said, blowing my nose into my brandy new hankie.
Mildred flew in for a closer view.
Suddenly, we heard a teeny, weeny wail.
Frank moved the magnifying glass closer to the metal thing.
It was Mildred.
"It used to be a trumpet, " she cried. "And now it's dead."
She was inconsolable.
"But Honey, why are you so sad?" I asked.
Mildred flew back to the house and returned holding a tiny case. She placed the case on the ground and opened it.
It was empty.
Frank and I looked at Mildred, confused. She burst into tears afresh. "It's my trumpet," she sobbed. "It fell out of my case when I got off the school bus."
Moral of the story? Always make sure your case is latched AND is facing your leg. If the latches fail, the case will open against your leg and save your instrument.
Saves on Kleenex, too.
Brooke
