Kids, Kids, Kids

“Ahoy! Listen ! Kids
do not mess around,
Pick up the books
From the ground!!
And Settle down!
It is bath time
before we go to bed. “
”Oh! No dad,” moaned the children,
”Can’t we stay a bit longer
We are still having fun
painting figures.
Besides, we had it yesterday.”
”Well, yesterday was another day
I am talking of today.”
”Yesterday is good for all days,”
Kids squeaked and wriggled
twiddling their arms while shouting out the reply.
”I say, I say
Pay attention
to what I say.”
”No way, dad no way.”
”No way is not a nice thing to say
pay attention to what I say.
If you do not take a bath
the skin pores will be clogged
no longer be able breath.
And that is no good
people will notice
and avoid giving you
goodnight kisses.”
”Daad! Daaddd
you are not telling the truth.”
”Believe me, I am.”
”Then how come
we give you goodnight kisses
when only once a week
is a bath you take.
Make no mistake
we love giving you kisses
no matter how you stink.
In fact we love the smell
come to think about it. “

“Thank you kids, that is nice try
But there is a big difference
between adults and children
you need to be clean.”
”Ddaaaaaaad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
”OK! OK! I have too many things in my mind,
Add to that, I work
seven days a week
to get the money for your nappies and the milk.”
”Daaaaaaaaaaad!!!!!!”
”Now enough of this!

I say, if you want goodnight kisses
you have to do what I say
you take a regular bath,
Otherwise I will spare my breath
and avoid coming close for goodnight kiss.
You do not want
that to happen -
Do you,
you two?”
”No! But then…..
Well, but then what?
If we must,
as you insist.
First give us lollipop
or sweetie Smarties.
And we will take a bath.”
”Did you say lollipop or sweetie?
No bribe!!!
Besides, Lollipop
is no good,
if you continue that stuff to chomp
one of these days your teeth will drop out.”
”That is all right;
grandma lives without it.
We chew the meat,
and put it on her plate,
for her to eat.”
”What? What did you say?”
”You have heard what we did say.”
”Grandma!!” Shouted the dad>
”Yes! Son.”
”What is the matter with you?
”What is the matter with me!
What happened?
What have I done this time round
I am not aware of?
Am I going naked, or
talking too much to the guests?”
”There are no guests and you are not walking naked!!

But what you do with the kids is disgusting.
How could you do
such a thing?”
”Well, do not blame me;
you ought to feed
the kids with what they most needed.
Then they will stop,
devouring my portion,
like hungry ravens,
without me payn’ attention.”
”I have had enough!!!” Dad t retorted.
”No sweet, no lollipop,
I say, come and take a bath
before you go to bed.”
”OK!! OK! Wait a bit till the video
comes to an end
and will take a bath
before we go to bed.
But promise to take us to Disney Land,
swell! That place is kids paradise
to see Mickey mouse,
Quasimodo, Pinocchio,
Cruella, Cinderella,
Baloo the Bear,
and above all mighty Scar,
Africa’s nightmare.”
”I promise.
But now hurry up
come and take a bath
before you go to bed.
I have to get up at dawn
for work,
and remain awake
all day long
to save my soul from
the machine’s rotary tongue.”
”Disney!
Did they say?
I wish I was a child
All I got to do was but to play,” dad talking to himself.
Copyright Haileselassie Giramy
draft 10/2/98