Saint Patrick's Day

 

    Once upon a time there was a man by the name of John Blackbird who lived in Topeka, Kansas.  He

lived in the Jackson Tower Apartments, where he was a member of the Sunshine Club (a club for the

mentally ill).  He also worked as a volunteer for Everybody Wins (A reading program for children), as 

well as the Capper Foundation (a place for handicap children) in the swimming pool.  So you could 

most definitely say John had an active life.

    John was at the Sunshine Connection having Dinner one day when they were talking about being in 

a St. Patrick's Day parade.  Even though John did not really believe that Saint Patrick had gotten rid of

all the snakes in Ireland (which he had been sainted for) he volunteered to be in the parade.  The parade 

would take John right past the Assumption school where he worked at, and how he loved the wee ones.

Then the parade would rap around and go up the street to John's house where it ended.

       John realized this would not be that much of a route, and he was to be dressed in green like a 

leprechaun.  John wore his green sports jacket and a green hat carrying candy.  Most of the candy he 

gave to the Assumption school children whom he felt a special affection for.  He in fact felt 

embarrassed when he ran out of candy at the end of the route.  He had nothing else to do so he danced 

a jig the rest of the way home.  Then once he got home he had a meal of corn beef and cabbage with 

iced tea.

Paul D. Eccles