His job today is to learn to tie his shoe
His father's last stern words
No lunch until you tie your shoe
Neither of us looking forward to the looming ordeal
We spent the morning outside
Taking advantage of a beautiful day
By 11:30 we were getting hungry
Time for the dreaded tying of the shoe
I picked a little park where there were no distractions
He untied his shoe and looked far away
OK give it your best shot I said
Do you want me to get you started?
He looked at me soberly and nodded
Your turn now I said watching him tighten up
But after just one loop he panicked
I can't do it Gary Don't make me do it
Tears began to flow Such depths of despair
As I had never seen I tied his shoe for him
Let's get lunch I said
Everyone knew him The usual?
There's that smile that makes my day
The whole time he was eating his sub
I was imagining his father's interrogation
His angelic face a vision of perfect joy