B&B

There once lived a man who could not hug.

Through actions, he chose to show his love.

He helped others achieve their dreams,

though he had none of his own, or so it seemed. 

He learned people are greedy, selfish and stingy.

They lacked ambition, were lazy and needy. 

Losing hope in his quest for people to encourage,

he fell sad, lonely, became disparaged. 

There once lived a girl. She was a hugger. 

Heart on her sleeve, oh how they tugged her. 

She lived to serve, and her service was needed. 

Help me, help me, they always pleaded. 

She learned they kept taking, never giving. 

Never enough, they demanded receiving. 

Running on empty, with nothing to fill her,  

she decided to charge for her services rendered. 

And so it happened, as fate would have it, 

their paths crossed, not luck of the rabbit.

It was preordained, meant to be. 

He met the hugger. He was finally in need. 

He built her a cottage deep in the forest. 

A bed and breakfast, guests could find solace. 

He managed the finances. She, the guests. 

Folks came from afar to find their rest. 

All walks of life, yet still the same, 

guests brought their baggage, strain and pain. 

They sought an escape from daily reality. 

What they needed was a change in mentality. 

One night over supper, the hugger did listen

as her guests complained of their complications. 

They turned it into a competition. 

Who has it worse, here's their renditions. 

The businessman worked such long hours

to support his family and provide hot showers. 

When he came home, no attention to give, 

his family despised him, he could not win. 

The mother just scoffed, at least he got away. 

Her sanity was frayed, she slaved all day. 

Never alone, she lost her identity. 

Tied to her kids, she had no liberty.

Rolling his eyes, the loner dismissed them. 

Least you're loved, all I've got’s a gaming system.

No one cares if I live or die,

so suck it up and dry your eyes.

The hugger sent them off to bed. 

Go rest your eyes and clear your head.

Tomorrow's a new day, wait and see. 

She had big plans for the three. 

That night in their slumber, magic did happen.

The enchanted cottage transformed the patrons. 

They awoke startled, bewildered, confused. 

They'd been reborn to their bodies from youth.

They rushed to the table, so full of questions. 

Maybe we're dreaming, mere hallucinations. 

I can't believe it, pinch me, please. 

They couldn't accept what was happening. 

The hugger sat at the table with them, 

after serving some waffles, eggs and ham. 

She sipped her coffee, a smile on her lips. 

They really were three very cute kids. 

You all grew up and forgot to remember

what it was like when you were still tender. 

You're bitter and jaded and selfish and hard,  

but I'll help heal you of what's been marred. 

Now finish your breakfast then brush your teeth. 

Go explore outside, play hide and seek.

I'll be here all day, if you should need me. 

I'll be cooking , cleaning, doing laundry. 

The boys got up and went to their rooms,

but the little girl continued to chew. 

Waffles with strawberries and whipped cream. 

She ate so much, her tummy reamed. 

The hugger watched as the girl grew queasy.

Holding her belly, she expelled freely. 

The hugger cleaned the mess with care. 

Picked up the girl, took her upstairs. 

Tucked her in and rubbed her tummy, 

kissed her forehead and read her a story.

Feeling much better, she fell asleep. 

The hugger got up. She'd an inn to keep. 

Humming as she mopped the floor, 

in came the business kid, slamming the door. 

He was bored and lonely, nothing to do. 

Seeking attention, demanding a muse. 

She explained that she had to mop. 

Go play outside. Go skip some rocks.

He huffed and puffed as he stomped away. 

Grimace and scowl across his face. 

Back to work with so much to do, 

on came the TV in the next room. 

There sat the loner, remote in hand. 

On the telly was a rock band. 

The hugger asked if those were his friends. 

Immediately, he went on the defense. 

I don't have any if you really must know, but I don't care. They can suck a big toe.

She gave the sad boy a loving embrace,  

Holding the child, she whispered this phrase. 

Sometimes we have to love them first. 

I know it's not easy, it does take courage. 

Put down your guard, and be yourself. 

Don't be afraid to offer help.

We need each other, so be there for them. 

You'll find yourself surrounded by friends. 

He couldn't help smiling as he put on his shoes. 

He'd seen business kid, he knew what to do.  

He thanked the hugger as he ran outside 

to make a new friend with another lonely guy. 

They laughed and played and ran so hard,  

they didn't even notice it’d gotten dark. 

They ran in the house to see what's for supper,

the boys sat down next to the small mother. 

As they all ate, the little girl pondered. 

How did she do it? So calm, so fervor. 

She had to know, so she asked her question. 

Why do you serve us without objection?

The hugger gently smiled with a twinkling eye. 

She looked right at her and gave her reply. 

It's easy to do when I care so much. 

It's not a chore, it's an action of love. 

A light went off in the little girl's head. 

She'd seen it wrong, she'd only seen dread. 

The hugger knew she just realized

the blessing she'd been given in this life. 

And what about you, she asked the worker. 

Have you learned anything during your furlough? 

Yes I have, he blurted out loud. 

It's okay to watch the clouds. 

He's finally understood his family's frustration,

when he brushed them off instead of partaking. 

He couldn't wait to get back home

and share with his household what he'd learned. 

Things would be different from then on,

For all three children had learned to love. 

They went to bed and woke up normal, 

hugged the hugger, sincere and thankful. 

After they left to go back home,  

She sat at her table, reading a poem. 

Her man of action came up behind her,  

Told her his dreams, he was glad he'd found her. 

She read out loud the poem he wrote her.  

He held his hugger, told her he loved her.  

She changed his life from the very first day, 

but he changed hers too, by providing the way.