DO BE

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Recently I was walking around the neighborhood park with Franklin and we came across some teenagers I see there frequently. I think they're high school students who relax at the park after school on nice days.

These are nice kids who work hard in school, just like Bert and Ernie when they need to learn something so they can teach children about it.

Franklin loves these kids, and he gave me the look that means, Please, Mom, can we go over there to see them?

So I asked if Franklin could come over to say hello.

They're very friendly, and they said sure.

So we approached them and they started petting Franklin and making a fuss over him as they always do, and he was sniffing them; but I was sniffing something else. And then I saw the joint sitting on the back edge of the bench on which they were seated.

The kids were enjoying a nice fall afternoon by smokin' a doobie.

I didn't say anything, but I felt like it.

I wanted to ask, How bout a toke for an old lady? I even wanted to scold them for not offering to share. Jeeze Louise, what's wrong with kids today?

 But I went on my way quietly. I had no right to give them a verbal paddling, no business expecting them to share. They paid good money for that joint, and I knew I should set a good example by not begging for a little. I shouldn't intrude on someone else's good time. I wouldn't like it if I had a joint and some old woman came by, expecting me to share.

So off I went, behaving myself as always, the picture of uprightness and selflessness, letting the young folks enjoy their good time.

Infinities of love,

Lola