Clown Feet and Mushy Matters

I have a son. His name is Sam. See Sam wait for school bus. See school bus come. See Sam run. See Sam run in hundred dollar Nikes. See hundred dollar backpack flap in wind. See dad stand at door. See tears in dad’s eyes. See dad look in wallet. See wallet empty. See more tears in dad’s eyes. How dad pay for Nike’s and backpack?

Hear telephone ring. Hear credit card company berate dad for late payment. Hear dad mock credit card company. Hear dad vow to one day pick up phone and give answering machine a break. Dad not like talking to credit card company.

Hear dad yell at family pets for putting him in poor house with carnivorous appetites. Hear dad bore family pets with animal shelter horror stories. Family pets veterans of animal shelter stories. Family pets not scared. Family pets only hungry.

See dad go to work at shoe store. Hear dad mutter unmentionable things to rude lady with size twelve foot. Hear rude lady ask dad what he said. Hear dad say, “Clown store on other side of mall.” Hear rude lady ask for manager.

See wife and son pick up dad at shoe store. Hear dad vent about rude lady with clown feet. See wife and son get far away look in eyes. Wife and son heard story before. Poor wife and son can’t wait to get home. They have life too.

See dad, mom and son get home. Dad, mom and son glad to be home. Dad even glad to see family pets. Whole family relaxed - till dad steps in mushy matter in his bare feet. See family pets scatter. Family pets not in mood for animal shelter horror stories.

Dad, Mom and Sam settle in for night, and give thanks for many blessings.

And the world is as it should be in this humble and happy home.