Rue

Rue (Fr.)/Street (Eng.) noun:

• a thoroughfare, especially in a city, town, or village that is wider than an alley or lane and that usually includes sidewalks.

An Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

by Portia Nelson (1993)

Chapter One

I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in.

I am lost... I am helpless.

It isn't my fault.

It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter Two

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend that I don't see it.

I fall in again.

I can't believe that I am in this same place.

But it isn't my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter Three

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see that it is there.

I still fall in... it's a habit... but,

My eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

Chapter Four

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

Chapter Five

I walk down another street.