Livora Gracely

The best thief in the desert does not need to run.

Grandpa had one rule about traveling through the desert:

Never waste water.

Grandma had a second rule:

Never argue with Grandpa about rules while he was thirsty.

By noon, they had earned a proper rest beneath the only palm tree willing to cooperate. Two chairs were opened. Hats came off. Sandals loosened. Grandma produced two tall glasses of cold lemonade.

Grandpa inspected his.

“Plenty of ice?”

“Plenty.”

“Enough lemon?”

“Plenty.”

He nodded. Marriage had survived another quality inspection.

They each took one satisfying sip.

Then both fell asleep.

The camel had been watching.

He approached the table without hurry. There was no need for suspicious behavior when everyone responsible for the lemonade was snoring.

He examined Grandpa.

Nothing.

He examined Grandma.

Nothing.

Then he examined the blue straw.

Interesting.

The camel lowered his head.

One sip.

Then another.

The glass made a tiny glup.

Grandpa stirred.

The camel froze.

Grandpa opened one eye halfway, saw something vaguely brown, and decided it was probably the desert.

He went back to sleep.

The camel continued.

By the time Grandma woke, her lemonade was still exactly where she had left it. Cold. Yellow. Cheerful.

Grandpa’s glass, however, contained three ice cubes, one exhausted slice of lemon, and approximately enough liquid to disappoint an ant.

Grandma looked at it.

Then at Grandpa.

“You were thirsty.”

Grandpa opened his eyes. “Apparently.”

Behind them, the camel stood beneath the palm tree wearing the peaceful expression of someone with absolutely no knowledge of recent events.

Grandpa lifted his empty glass.

“I don’t remember drinking all this.”

Grandma smiled. “Age.”

The camel blinked.

There are days when we are so certain we know where something went, who caused the inconvenience, or how the story happened that we stop looking for another explanation.

Usually, life corrects us eventually.

Sometimes gently.

Sometimes wisely.

And sometimes it leaves a blue straw hanging from a camel’s mouth.