Doctor Plant enjoyed working in his yard

He liked gardening

Things at the office had been hard

Revenue was suffering, sales were down

He began to believe his office would drown

He sat in his yard and watched squirrels scurry

He watched the wild rabbits, always in a hurry

Weeds were making their way

Gumballs, sticks, leaves all seemed to bring decay

He was down on his luck, felt hopeless and stuck

He watched pedestrians on the sidewalk in front of his lawn

Run, skip, and walk

Opportunity, he thought

In a moment his plan was drawn

How he needed revenue

It was sad but true

He got his leaf blower and blew all the gumballs onto the path

He planted some sticks on the sidewalk

Dug a few holes under the weeds

He thought, “If just a few of these people break an ankle, I’ll have all I need!”

He hid and watched as neighbors skidded around the gumballs

He was hopeful and all

When a large hare ran across the grass and stole a large head of lettuce

It was ridiculous but Dr. Plant chased

He worked so hard for that lettuce  – it couldn’t be a waste

He sprinted from his chair

Toward the street

Forgot about all the traps there

Gumballs rolled under his shoes, sticks poked his shins, his foot stepped into a hole

He flailed about, spun and rolled

Didn’t get far

He landed on that sidewalk in the traps he set

A broken ankle and twisted knee was all he’d get

That lettuce was gone as was the hare

Along with his medical practice and the pedestrians that had once been there

But redemption came in a strange way

As he lay on that sidewalk supine

A few strangers came to help him

“Dr. Plant?!” they cried

What a surprise – three people he had operated on

Walking to do good

They lifted him up as best they could

He was remorseful for his ill-intent

He had helped at least a few through the years

Six months and three surgeries later he was enjoying his semi-retirement

At the lawn and garden center