Like allResponsible parents
We too have
A deadline
———-
It’s strict
———-
You could get
A rap
A shout
A kneeling down
Or worse
———
If you’re not
Back home
In time
———
The rules
Can be relaxed
By half an hour
But not more
———–
He’s found a solution
He doesn’t ring
Our bell when late
Beyond the
Half an hour
———–
Off he scoots
To his grandmother’s
His nana
———–
Then comes the call
I’m not surprised
———–
He didn’t see
The time he says
He’s afraid
To come home
———–
Let him be
Let him stay
———
We give in
———
He comes next day
With his big smile
All is forgotten
———
The next day
———-
Off again
To his grandmother’s
————
This time we
Put our foot down
Send him
Right back home
———-
The bell rings,
He’s there
His eyes full of tears
And who’s there
Behind him
But his grandmother
His nana
———
Let him be
He’ll not do this
Another time
———–
We must obey
His grandmother
His nana
————-
Then there’s the day
His grandmother
Is waiting
With a stick
———
The doorbell rings
Not my fault
Says he
I way playing
My eyes on the ball
How do you expect
For me
To move my eye
On the ball
To the clock?
———
My mother tries
To repress her smile
To appear stern
She gives up
———
He’s safe
He’s let off
One more time
——–
Then it’s bad
———–
He’s absconding
We can’t find him
We’re concerned
——–
He lands up
At dinner time
Why didn’t you come
For lunch we say
———–
Oh I ate
At my friend’s place
His mom had made
Yummy
Pao bhaji
———-
That won’t do
We tell him
You must inform
Whose house you’re in
————
I’ll surely will
———–
He’s let off
———-
Another day
Not to be seen
Till evening comes
We send our daughters
To look out for him
Ask the security
Whose house he’s in
Call his friend’s mothers
There no sight
Of him
———-
Then he comes
Ready to cry
Why didn’t you
Tell us
Which friends house
You were in
Like we told you to?
————
No mamma
I would have told
I wasn’t the whole day
In anybody’s house
I was
In the clubhouse
———-
Now the clubhouse
Has a phone
———-
But we give up
And he’s let off
———-
Once again
He is late
My friend’s ball
Got lost says he
I was being good
Helping him
Find it
——–
His tale is true
He doesn’t lie
As usual
He’s let off
———-
My daughter
She complains
You never
Let us off
———–
It’s difficult
With his humour
———-
What to do
If his friends mom
Wants to feed him
So his son will eat
———-
I’m no longer worried
I know he’s responsible
Won’t get in
Any trouble
If he does
His friends will come
And inform
And most importantly
The vacation
Is over
———–
It’s back to routine
The timetable
Monday to Thursday
Straight from class
————-
Friday to Saturday
Extra time allowed
——–
So now we are at peace
My son and me
Unless….
We have to study.
But then that
Is another tale….
Substances hurt people^ hurt people 