VERSE 1: “1800 miles away, from where I stand today, as I left my son on his first day of school, I wonder if a parent could use a tool. I found the present a major event. On my walk home, I had a thought.”

BRIDGE: “At the stop sign, I was not a father by design. How can I make my fatherhood well understood? After many days in high gear, I finally got it. ‘Respect; that means, do not interfere’.”

VERSE 2: That’s his weekly lesson throughout the first grade. That’s how his drama will lessen when his youth fades, without dealing with a ton of rules half-baked. “School night,” I screamed, “TV off, my dear, finish your meal.” At me, he beamed “Dad, you interfere, got to be real!”

VERSE 3: The signs were clear, I broke my very own rule. But it’s cool, I now have a tool. A dozen years later, a student was looking for something greater, 18 blocks away, from where I stand today. On Henderson Bridge, we talked as we walked. The foreign student was grumbling. Relationship with his parents was crumbling. For that, I have a tool. My story for him was never too soon.

VERSE 4: From the foreign student, I got an email about his drama. To my amusement, he nailed the problem with his mama. After many days in high gear, he finally got it. “Respect; that means, do not interfere.”