After Good Comes Bad

Today I realized the good of being a dad. I picked up some pre-K student and drove him a whopping 4 minutes to his school. Once we arrived, I took him to the office to drop him off. I explained to the secretary who this student was, Saul, and why he was late to school. The principal was standing there and volunteered to take Saul to his class. She reached down and took his hand to lead him away as any teacher would do to a young student. Saul did not realize this and let out a shrill scream. Did not know such a little guy could produce the same sound as an Amtrack. The principal looked at me and I shrugged thinking, "Good thing the little guy did not do this when his mom put him on the bus. Better your problem then mine." I was about to turn around and walk away when Saul wrestled free from the principal and took a dive at my left leg. He wrapped his arms around my ankle, staring at me with his brown eyes, crying, begging for me not to leave. The school secretary said, "Looks like you made a friend" to which I responded "I had him on the bus for only 4 minutes." Well, of course at this point I figured I would have to walk the student to class. So I offered which to the relief of the principal who gladly accepted. She thought it best for both of us to hold his hand while we walked him to class. Well Saul wanted none of that so I picked him up and carried him. No sooner did we leave the office did Saul stop crying. Fifteen seconds after that he had his arms wrapped around my neck, head on my shoulder as we bopped to class. That was such a good feeling. I was thinking about the joy of my own child, holding him as he demanded to hang out with his dad one more minute. Then came the bad. We got to his class. I told him where he was, that he will see his mom soon and I was going to put him down. As I put him down, he saw all the other pre-K'ers having fun. A second later a friendless toy caught his eye and off he went. He did not even say goodbye!!! You would think after having his head on my shoulder, taking a dive at my ankle begging me to stay he would atleast say goodbye. Hasn't his mom taught him any manners? Just remember, after good comes bad...