Check That Bag

Does anyone know where I can find a Strawberry Shortcake ring? The kind you get at the ward trunk or treat. You know, the one you never even looked at. The one that is irreplaceable. And even if you wanted to replace it you couldn't because, well, YOU NEVER SAW THE THING! Middle daughter's was flushed down the toilet at church today. It was a tragical event. Here's how it went down: (went down. tee hee.)

During Sacrament meeting both oldest daughter and middle daughter had to use the bathroom. I have only recently been letting them go on their own. So off they went. A few minutes later middle daughter returned. Sobbing. Doing the double-breath thing. Like she was way sad.

She told me that oldest daughter had been wearing middle daughter's Strawberry Shortcake ring (what ring? I had never seen a Strawberry Shortcake ring) and dropped it in the toilet. So I immediately stood up to usher her out of the chapel. So as not to make a scene. Because she could not be consoled.

All the way out of the chapel she kept muttering stuff about the toilet. And people could hear her sad words. Which is ok, because I think people kind of get how we are by now. And I think they accept us anyway. I think. (I got a few questions on this from curious friends later- and I shared with them our little sadness. And appropriate sympathy was offered.)

We made a beeline for the bathroom. And you can bet I was prepared to fish that ring out of the toil-y. Just as we entered the bathroom I heard the surge of water that signifies the flushing of the toilet. A little girl came out of the stall. I didn't even have to ask. She informed me that she just flushed "it" down. Thanks.

One little girl's world shattered with a single flush.

Unleash the floodgates. The tears came. And they didn't stop. For a long time. You would have thought middle daughter had just lost the canine. She was utterly heartbroken. We spent the next ten minutes trying to calm and settle. And then, once she was done crying, the questions came. You know the ones about can we go to the store tomorrow and get one just like it? The ones that you know are un-answerable.

All I know is that the ring is somewhere far away. Probably making its way to

P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney.

I have no doubt that Dorie will find it. And what would P. Sherman do with a Strawberry Shortcake ring anyway? He's a dentist. I think he could afford at least a cubic zirconia. Here's to hoping he'll let it go.

So here is what I have learned: not only do you need to go through your children's trick-or-treat bag to find the icky candies that have been tampered with, but also so you can take note on the jewelry. In case it gets flushed down the toilet. Or something else. Because anything is possible. Especially when you are trying to keep your family reverent. Like at church.