The deadline

Like all
Responsible parents
We too have 
A deadline
It’s strict
You could get
A rap
A shout
A kneeling down
Or worse
If you’re not
Back home
In time

The rules
Can be relaxed
By half an our
But not more

He’s found a solution
He doesn’t ring
Our bell when late
Beyond the
Half an hour

Off he scoots
To his grandmother’s
His nana

Then comes the call
I’m not surprised
He didn’t see 
The time he says
He’s afraid
To come home

Let him be
Let him stay
We give in
He comes next day
With his big smile
All is forgotten 

The next day
Off again 
To his granddmother’s
This time we
Put our foot down
Send him
Right back home
The bell rings,
He’s there
His eyes full of tears
And who’s there
Behind him
But his grandmother
His nana

Let him be
He’ll not do this
Another time
We must obey
His grandmother 
His nana

Then there’s the day
His grandmother 
Is waiting 
With a stick
The doorbell rings
Not my fault 
Says he
I way playing 
My eyes on the ball

How do you expect 
For me
To move my eye 
On the ball
To the clock?

My mother tries
To repress her smile
To appear stern
She gives up
He’s safe
He’s let off 
One more time 

Then it’s bad
He’s absconding 
We can’t find him
We’re concerned
He lands up
At dinner time
Why didn’t you come
For lunch we say
Oh I ate
At my friend’s place
His mom had made
Yummy 
Pao bhaji

That won’t do
We tell him 
You must inform
Whose house you’re in
I’ll surely will
He’s let off

Another day
He’s at
His Grandmother’s
Not to be seen
Till evening comes

We send our daughters
To look out for him
Ask the security
Whose house he’s in
Call his friend’s mothers

There no sight
Of him
Then he comes
Ready to cry
Why didn’t you
Tell us
Which friends house
You were in
Like we told you to?
No mamma
I would have told
I wasn’t the whole day
In anybody’s house
I was 
In the clubhouse 

Now the clubhouse 
Has a phone
But we give up
And he’s let off

There again
He is late
My friend’s ball
Got lost says he
I was being good
Helping him
Find it
His tale is true
He doesn’t lie
As usual
He’s let off

My daughter 
She complains
You never
Let us off
It’s difficult 
With his humour
What to do
If his friends mom
Wants to feed him
So his son will eat
I’m no longer worried
I know he’s responsible 
Won’t get in
Any trouble
If he does
His friends will come
And inform
And most importantly 
The vacation
Is over

It’s back to routine
The timetable
Monday to Thursday 
Straight from class
Friday to Saturday 
Extra time allowed

So now we are at peace
My son and me
Unless....
We have to study.

But then that
Is another tale....

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