Billy's Choice
by Jareth Valentine

Once, upon a midnight's sleeping,
starlight bright and moonlight creeping,
A noble knight did charge and break
down little Billy's bedroom door.

Billy jerked awake, of course,
and saw at once, no common horse,
but, instead, a dragonfly that took
up the entire floor.

Upon its back a saddle sat,
and the knight upon thereat
was wearing garments like none
e'er Billy'd seen before.

"Come my child, come!" he cried,
and waved the sword slung at his side.
"Let us venture forth and see
what wonders fate hath yet in store!

We shall see a dragon's lair,
and ride to rescue damsels fair,
and have epic adventures
in the fabled lands of yore!"

Billy blinked in honest shock,
and stammered once or twice to talk,
and finally spit out, "Golly gee,
Adventure, girls, and dragon gore!

I'd love to come along, I would!
But really, I don't think I should.
For tomorrow I have tests
in reading, science, math, and more.

And should I fail them, noble knight,
My folks would truly raise a fright,
and so, I fear, I cannot come,
though my life be a frightful bore."

"Oh," the knight said simply, and
without a word or wave of hand,
turned around his bug and flew
the way that he had come 'afore

And, with him gone, the little boy,
laid back down with little joy,
and drifted off, now knowing
he'd regret his choice forevermore.

The End