In 1993

My child was three,

attending childcare

in Corvallis high^**.

A Spanish girl in her teen,

was a new student,

in that school.

She took care of him

as part of her childcare class.

With her accent like mine, she said:

"I feel I love your kid,

he is nice,

but I was surprised,

when I asked him:

what country are you from?"

His answer was:

"I am from Fred Meyer."

She asked me, his father,

here is the world map, 

please show me 

where Fred Meyer is.

"We do not need a map," I said.

"It's a few hundred feet

from this spot,

it's right over there."

"Yes, indeed

His country is full of candy bars,

children's toys,

full of what he needs.

Go yourself and see!"

Now let his father ask:

Don't we elder need

innocence like his,

to break the dividing walls forever,

to cleanse our souls, and

live in peace together?

* Fred Meyer is a grocery store in Corvallis, Oregon

** Corvallis high school