THE TRUST-O-METER

I built a Trust-o-Meter
from cardboard and tape.
It measures how trustworthy I am
in excellent shape.
It rises when I tell the truth
about who ate the pie.
(It was me. I was hungry.
Better honest than sly.)
It jumps when I return things
the way they were lent.
My friend said
“You gave it back perfect.
That is rare. That is meant.”
It dips just a little
when I forget what I said,
like promising to feed the hamster
then going to bed.
But it bounces back quickly
when I fix my mistake.
Trust grows again
every time you choose to remake.
My Trust-o-Meter is silly
but it taught me one thing
being trustworthy grows stronger
with every choice that you bring.
And the funny part is
everyone has one inside.
You cannot see it or touch it
but you feel it with pride.