Things

he left a fancy thing
expensive thing
resting on the bookshelf
shining white and clean
atop thirty years of dust

and bodies passed through that room
each hour, a new batch
then more
other shiny, expensive, fancy things
left on that same spot
often forgot

a boy found the thing and knew it’s value
but without hesitation the boy turned it in
to the teacher
not sure he could trust the teacher
to hold the shiny, expensive, fancy thing safe

and moments after he ran into the room
back to the spot on the bookshelf
now bare
his heart in his throat

until the boy told him
the teacher has your shiny, expensive, fancy thing
and the relief sank to his feet
as he hugged the boy
and the teacher smiled with hope