Timeless Tale

The act seemed inconspicuous enough.

In a quaint trinket shop on the outskirts of Teton Village in Jackson Hole,

a valley nestled in the shadow of the Grand Teton range.

There it was: A small, gold pendant of the jagged mountains,

perched in a curio cabinet display case, calling to the young girl,

and before she knew it, it was in her back pocket, without any exchange.

***

She exited the shop with her family, all their paid-for souvenirs in toe.

Her father had purchased a carved walking stick, her mother a sun hat,

her little brother a stuffed brown bear with a flannel coat.

The pendant was heavy in her pocket, her guilt heavy on her mind.

What she had done was wrong. She swore to herself, right then and there:

She would find a place to hide it, somewhere quiet and remote.

***

Her family had plans to go hiking that day,

the Grand Teton range stood tall and proud in the distance,

its peaks blanketed in powdery snow.

The little girl knew this would be her chance.

Up on those mountains, deep in those trees, she'd find the perfect spot.

Her crime would be forgotten, no one else ever needed to know.

***

As they started their hike, she immediately began searching

for a stray path, a hollow log, a gopher hole, a murky pond,

anywhere she could possibly stash the pendant and her fear.

She could barely remember taking it,

wondered endlessly at how it ended up in her possession.

She hated looking at it. It needed to disappear.

***

She first found a boulder beside the trail, secluded in a bush,

under it could be a promising spot.

But as she lifted and pushed, it did not yield.

Next, they stopped for lunch by a glistening lake.

If she threw the pendant with all her might, maybe it'd sink into the depths

and she'd be rid of it. But if the lake ever dried up, would it be revealed?

***

As they hiked further, she spied a small hollow in a pine tree.

Surely no one would ever think to look inside.

But alas, it towered over her head, she could not reach if she tried.

Finally, they came to a cliff face with a breath-taking view.

With her family distracted, she closed her eyes and threw,

the pendant sailing over their heads, tumbling down the mountain side.

***

The little girl smiled with relief as they neared the parking lot,

her guilty conscience and terrible deed lay forgotten,

the family car sparkling in the afternoon sun.

But as her father unlocked the driver's side door, there it was:

The gold pendant, sticking out of the windshield.

Her attempt to escape the consequences of her actions completely undone.