That morning there had been a lady bug waiting to greet her on the bathroom mirror. It seemed an auspicious event. “Hello,” she whispered to her polka-dotted guest.

And though it was not a response she could hear, she felt sure the ladybug returned her greeting in kind.

“I wonder what other surprises might be in store for me today?” she asked the ladybug.

The ladybug gave no reply, but she left for work with an expectant attitude.