I read the story in Reader's Digest years ago and I have to admit it was a good story and it worked. Kind of choked you up.

The story was a guy in jail being released and he was not sure if he was welcome homne. So he wrote a letter and said I'll be on the bus. If you want me to stop tie a yellow ribbon on the tree in the front yard. The story goes through all his thoughts and hopes and fears, wondering waiting. Woould he stop or keep on riding.

And when he gets there there is not one ribbon but the whole tree is covered with yellow ribbons.

The song, I agree, sucked, and spoiled the story. But it has stuck with me for years. RD could likely look in the index and give it to you.

Richard Wright