The Little Blue Dad

There once was a Dad who had a child and, though no fault of his own, got divorced. "Who will help raise this child?" asked the mother.

"I will", said the Dad.

"We won't unless we get paid lots of money," said the big red daycare.

"We won't let you unless Dad pays us lots of money," said the big red family responsibility office.

"We won't let you unless you pay us lots more taxes," said the big red tax department.

"I won't but if you pay me lots of money, I will drag it through court until your money is all gone," said the big red lawyer.

"I won't," said the big red judge.

"I won't" said the big red politician.

So the little Dad paid, but they still didn't let him raise his child. He was sad and blue.

But the child, also sad and blue, grew up with problems.

The blue child asked, "Who will help me with my homework in high school? Who will help me resist drugs, gangs, violence? Who will help me when I am in trouble with the police? Who will help me through college?"

"Not I," said the big red daycare.

"Not I," said the big red family responsibility office.

"Not I," said the big red tax department.

"Not I," said the big red lawyer.

"Not I" said the big red judge.

"Not I" said the big red politician.

"I will", said the little blue Dad. And he did.

By Glenn Cheriton, Ottawa