The Return of the Father

One day, quite unexpectedly, the boy’s father returned from the Land of Promise. After years and years of being away, he traveled the long perilous journey back home, back across seven hills and seven seas that splash against those unattainable shores of the continent where nobody goes hungry, where all children have a pair of shoes  and all dreams come true. 

The man came back wearing a fancy new suit (or at least it looked new and fancy to the boy because he had never seen anybody ever wearing anything remotely as fine as this man’s suit) and sporting a fancy new  top hat. 

The whole village gathered together to see the little boy’s father – and he was quite a sight to behold, looking nice and dandy in his swanky suit and in his swanky hat. Immediately the villagers gave him a nickname that was tailor-made for him just as the suit seemed to be.

 

American.

The boy couldn’t believe his luck he had to pinch himself.

But it was true - his dad was really back! 

His heart was doing cartwheels inside his chest and everything else within him was filled with warmth and joy and silliness he didn't know existed. He thought he was going to burst. He sneaked surreptitious glances at this amazing stranger that looked like him… or rather, he looked like the stranger. 

But he wasn’t a stranger! 

He actually got to call him his father – his dad! And the boy was dizzy with happiness  – more happiness than he’s ever known in his short life - thinking that he gets to be called this man's son.