people divide the human population into two groups. the criteria of division changes. they will say:

the people that like ‘the old man and the sea’ and those that don’t.’

‘people that can enjoy a drink, and those that don’t’.

but I know the true division. it is sad and sobering.

the difference between us all is between those that can place an exact time and date , when their childhood ended, and those that had it slowly trickle down, until they became adults.

I know where I stand. I can tell you when I stopped being an innocent child, started being a grownup.

it’s a sad story, as my group of people’s tale always is.

I

you see, friends, I used to love elephants. what isn’t to love about them?!

what negative thing could you possibly say about a massive animal, that is kind at heart, always careing, eating bananas joyously, reaching out with it’s trunk, for a gentle touch, flapping its ears, like philodendron leaves.

I remember how I particularly enjoyed walking round their enclusure in the zoo. my parents urging me to move on, and that my brother wanted to see the leopards.

leopards? who wants to see them, when you have elephants?! I would say , part angry , part incredulous.

you guys go on ahead, I'm staying here.

but then I grew up and learned the hard truths of life. Santa doesn’t exist, neither do witches and wizards.

and neither do elephants.

I know, you laugh. you say “what took you so long?”

if you can believe it, I held on to the dream all the way up to grade 7. I probably started to have doubts earlier, but it was a school trip that did it. we walked around, bearly restraining ourselves to NOT throw the potato chips to the monkeys and the hotdogs to the tigers.

and then we reached my favorite part.

excuse me a second, i need to take a drink. my mouth's getting dry just talking about it..

so there it was. i saw an “elephant” resting. it is said that elephants seldome lie down. but there is a reason why. as the elephant was at rest, i could see the trunk, from the underside. the glorious trunk thst so dextrously holds all kinds of things. and that my mom even allowed me to shake once.

it was draped in such away, that you could clearly see that it was an attachment. by some careless missallignment, I could see the seams withwhich it was connected. a closer look revealed similar high quality stitching behind the legs, and the ears.

dumbo was as real these ones were.

after concluding this inspection, my heart beating fast, i stood there, gaping. there was no magic anymore, only hard reality.

it's possibly for the best that i got this wake up when i did. age 13 , is the age of manhood. not a child forever again. I needed no rite of passage, just a school trip to the zoo.

oh, they took us back, and onviously this was the last school trip organized for the zoo. from then on, we went to grownup places, like the fire station, the power plant, the air force base.. places that we should hopefully catch a glimpse of a future career.

never the zoo again.

I now realize, that it must have been more for legal concerns: what if another kid discovers the truth and flakes out? we'll get sued!!

now, friends, I have a doughter. sooner or later I'm going to take her to the zoo. I have goosebumps. how will I tell her? how can I keep her innocent?

Mommy always tells me there aren’t monsters under my bed. She’s wrong cuz I heard a crunching under my bed like the sound my teeth make when I ate one of mommy’s cookies because she can’t make soft ones like grandma.

I popped my head over the side of the bed to see if someone was eating cookies. There was a man under there, or a something. I don’t know if it was a man because it looked kinda like a lizard too, but he wasn’t eating cookies. Cookies aren’t big, red, and juicy. I think he was eating Fluffy, my cat, but I wasn’t sure, so I asked him.

“Scuze me mister, are you eating my cat?” He didn’t answer me though. He just looked up at me with a very very big smile with red all around it. Mommy says I have a big smile, but he’s got a bigger smile. I figured the cat must’ve been really tasty, so I got under the bed to taste it cus mommy’s never cooked kitty for dinner. I remembered my manners real quick though and asked if he would share with me.

“Please can I have some too please?” Mommy calls that a ‘please-sandwich,’ but I just think it’s more nicer. He didn’t say I could, but didn’t tell me to go away when I started eating it too. I couldn’t eat the bones like he could, so I picked them out like I do with mushrooms.

The floor got really soggy with blood, and I remembered mommy just cleaned the floors with the big mop that I was not allowed to use as a pretend horsey. She would be very mad if I left the soggy on the floor, so I told the thing he had to go eat outside.

I told him where the door was, but he just slithered up the wall and slid out my window. If he ever comes back, I’m gonna ask him to teach me that trick.

I saw a man walking, crying

Mouth agape, face contorted

A fight? best keep away

Rough area, bars around

Stay safe, move on along.

I saw a man walking, crying

Bright red face, is he hurt?

He looks in pain, what to do?

Go to his aid, call for help

No, best not get involved.

I saw a man walking, crying

Tears of anger? A hatred pace?

Someone cheated, stolen trust

Deceived, misled, betrayed

Step aside, let him pass.

I saw a man walking, crying

Face in anguish, someone died?

Go quickly over, offer solace

A kind word, give comfort

What can I do? He’s gone.

I saw a man walking, crying

He’s in need, lost his job?

Lend an ear, buy him lunch

Offer support, job advice

No. Demeaning, let him go.

I saw a man walking crying

Why? I will never know.

From ordinary to extraordinary.

All it takes is a little extra.

A little more effort

A little further.

From try to triumph.

All it takes is a little umph.

One more task,

One more dream.

From impossible to possible.

Reaching for the stars.

Not stopping when others do.

Doing all you can.

We can do it in our own way.

Struggling to fight,

when all others have fallen away.

dreaming of days when you can fly,

instead of just giving in to die.

So go after your dreams,

make them real.

Get others to know how you feel.

For all it takes is a little

Extra,

a little umph,

a little I'm.

So do it all this time.

1. If you can’t say something nice,

don’t say anything at all.

2. For every non-nice word you say,

you receive a warning

in the form of one hundred pushups.

3. After three warnings, and for every

non-nice word thereafter,

you get a tooth removed by the sensei,

dropkick style.

Disclaimer: The Dojo cannot be held responsible for the particular aim or lack thereof of the sensei. All dental and/or medical expenses are solely the responsibility of the wayward student.

A day has passed.

The sun has set.

From you I see

There's nothing left

The morning calls

I press reset.

In this moment I am free

And happy, yet.

First of summer and my winter coat is peeling. The owls sing a song of lust tonight. For them, not for me.

I've always had trouble with this June. You burn away the fat Way to soon.

I look to you in desperation. But only tonight. We whisper mimics of what it was back then, just to help me sleep.

Nd’ I will cry, cry, I will not cry.

I'm thirsty, hungry, looking to dance.  Cuz my heart is broken out of boredom, looking for chance. Itchy, antsy, looking for you. I don't wanna do this alone, do you?

This pillow case still carries reminiscence of your brain. I can't tell if it's me or just the same. It won't change.

Feelings of happiness surge to me like a thundering wave. Only to come crashing down In discontent.

I need to swing my arms in rhythm with yours, but you're m.i.a. And you need to listen, need to learn. Cuz somethings gonna happen soon.

I'm thirsty, hungry, looking to dance.  Cuz my heart is broken out of boredom, looking for chance. Itchy, antsy, looking for you. I don't wanna do this alone, do you?

Days follow days and nights follow nights (it's always the same thing×4) cold creeps in and hands bleed bare.

There's only one needle left. I'm gonna feel it with you

And I will cry, cry, I will not cry.

I'm thirsty, hungry, looking to dance.  Cuz my heart is broken out of boredom, looking for chance. Itchy, antsy, looking for you. I don't wanna do this alone, do you?

"Papa, did you go to a university?"

"No. I migrated to this country when I was fourteen years old. I had to do odd jobs, and do janitorial work in one of the store at the corner."

"But, even if you did not go to school formally, you can read newspaper and sign a bank book. You even have more money than those who graduated from college."

"My son, sometimes, we can attribute that to luck. But more than having gifted with a hefty size of luck, even if I did not go to college, I read books on my own, and practice writing at night. I practice memorizing the multiplication table while driving the truck. I never gave up my dream to learn. I knew going to college is not part of it, but I tried my best to understand the rule of commerce, of profit, and of the banking system."

"Did you ever have problems with the law?"

"No. I made sure I do and act in the same way other people do. I never did rash things. And, I always kept my promise to anyone. If I owe them anything, I make an effort to return it, even if I have to starve myself to death."

"And my son, most of all, no matter what skill level I was at, I made sure I did not do any of the vices like drinking, womanizing, gambling, etc. I avoided people who might influence me in a negative way. I was most of the time alone. But I was never lonely. I fill up my time reading and studying."

"Oh, I got a secret. I tried to do favor to those who are wealthy. In the process, it is they who gave me a chance to be where I am now."

"Papa, but why do you insist that I do well in college when you did not go to any school?"

"Because, I do not want you to go through the uncertainties and ignorance of life. With a good education, you can enjoy your life with meaning. You may not become wealthy, but you will see the world differently from how I am seeing it. My son, I see life merely as buying, selling, and profit. I am leading a very simple life, and sometimes, almost ignorant of the meaning of life."

"When I came to this country, I did not have a family, no father, no mother, no sisters and brother. I was alone. Now, I have you and your mother. And, my only happiness is to see you grow."

"Ring - ring - ring." Was that a dream?" "Did I miss my Dad?" It is now 7:00 in the morning and I have to rush to the university. Suddenly, my mind shifted to the exam papers I have to check, and the journal article I have to submit. Then, life goes on with a simple breakfast.