Wheels in Motion

Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night?
-John Milton

We returned from our visit to Tennessee to hear the news that my brother, who lives in Ireland, had a bit of good luck during the time.
He had a van which he was anxious to sell quickly after he purchased a car. It boasted a very flat tyre, an almost dead battery and a suspension part that poked its way through the floor of the van and made driving a potentially deadly endeavour.
Being rid of it would be a blessing but difficult to negotiate given the fact that it would cost money- more than the van was worth- to dispose of the vehicle.
Imagine, then, my brother's amazement upon emerging from the flat to find a rather empty parking space where the van ought to have been.
Somebody saw fit to steal the thing; goodness knows how far they travelled with the rickety and half-broken van but nevertheless it is gone, at no cost to my sibling except the money he paid for the vehicle which had anyhow long since been spent and given up.
He mused that had they just knocked on his door they might have had the van for free, including the correct paperwork.
If only all things could be similarly turned around so that the silver lining becomes clear!