diff --git a/context/reconstruction-gotchas.md b/context/reconstruction-gotchas.md
index f9170d6..2e70af2 100644
--- a/context/reconstruction-gotchas.md
+++ b/context/reconstruction-gotchas.md
@@ -534,3 +534,14 @@ segment tables) — the same class of latent overflow.
 ## Key Relationships
 - Applies to: every topic that reconstructs a class ([[subsystems]], [[combat-damage]], [[gauges-hud]], [[locomotion]]).
 - Uses: [[decomp-reference]] (offsets/ClassIDs), [[reconstruction-method]] (the loop).
+
+
+## Dropped mid-sequence call = first-use-works-by-accident (issue #42, 2026-07-24)
+A transcription that drops ONE call from a decomp sequence can pass every first-look test:
+ConfigMapGauge's redraw dropped the binary's `MoveToAbsolute(0,0)` (@004c6f1c, vtbl+0x24
+between SetColor and the blit) -- the FIRST draw landed correctly because the fresh view
+cursor happened to sit at the origin; only a FORCED REDRAW (the DISPLAY page round-trip)
+exposed the stale-cursor blit as an offset ghost.  LESSON: when transcribing a draw/IO
+sequence, verify EVERY vtbl call in the decomp is present -- and test the REDRAW/second-use
+path, not just first render.  (Live-pinned by the operator's exact repro; bisect showed it
+was never a regression -- it shipped with the feature.)