My heart is broken. An exquisite creature has been kidnapped, and quite possibly, killed.
Every spring morning as I walked up university hill the sight of its delicate white blossoms bobbing in the breeze never failed to bring a smile to my face. There it grew, a mere metre or so from the sidewalk, readily available to the eyes of appreciative pedestrians, cyclists, even motorists.
Judging by its size (30 "slippers" the last time I counted) it had thrived there for many years. Imagine my shock and distress this morning to discover a lifeless hole instead of a flourishing plant. To the insensitive clod that dug it up: There are dozens of lady slippers on the hill. Couldn't have you exerted yourself just a tad, climbed the bank and taken one of the less conspicuous plants? Instead you have taken the most spectacular plant on the hill, and quite possibly killed it, judging by the lack of soil that was dug up with it. I'm sure I speak for many of the regular users of university hill by saying that our walk has been diminished in an immeasurable way, thanks to your thoughtless and selfish actions.
Bert Gunderson
Prince George
