The Greatest of These is Love Pt. 02

"That's probably a safe assumption, Dawn. Now, Aunt Margie, are you done mauling these poor little girls? I think I could stand some of that myself," John teased. "You know, take one for the team, or something like that."

"You come here, young man!" Margie ordered.

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John's mother, Susan Wilson, was still very upset on Saturday morning.

"What do you mean, 'he's not coming home for Thanksgiving'?"

"I mean, he will not be here this week," John's father, Henry, responded. "He's accepted an invitation from his girlfriend's parents to spend the week with them down in Phelps Bluff. I've mapped it out; it's well over six hours of driving time from there to here. He doesn't have a car he can use, so he's at the mercy of others. What more can I say?" Henry tried to calmly communicate to his wife, Susan, why their eldest son would be absent.

"I heard him say something along those lines last night, but when I woke up this morning, I thought it had just been a dream. A bad dream. But this is a nightmare! Henry, what are we going to tell our parents?"

"Simply the truth, Susan. Our son is growing up. At last, he has a girlfriend and he's chosen to spend this holiday with her and her family. Susan, John will be 21 years old at the end of March."

"Don't remind me!" she snapped.

"It's the truth, dear. He did, however, say that he should be here for most of the Christmas break. We'll just have to speak with him then."

"Oh, we'll speak, that's for certain!"

"For what it's worth, his girlfriend sounded very pleasant. Perhaps we'll get to meet her during that longer holiday break."

"I'm sure that little Daisy Mae has him completely wrapped around her finger. He's probably having sex with her, the little strumpet! If she thinks she's going to entrap him, she's got another thing coming!" Susan practically spit.

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End of "The Greatest of These is Love, Part 2"

"Cat's in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin

Verse:

My child arrived just the other day

He came to the world in the usual way

But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay

He learned to walk while I was away

And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew

He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad

You know I'm gonna be like you"

Chorus:

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon

Little Boy Blue and the Man in the Moon

"When you coming home, dad?"

"I don't know when

But we'll get together then

You know we'll have a good time then"

Verse:

My son turned ten just the other day

He said, "thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play

Can you teach me to throw?",

I said, "not today, I got a lot to do",

He said, "that's okay"

Then he walked away, but his smile never dimmed

It said, 'I'm gonna be like him, yeah

You know I'm gonna be like him'

Chorus:

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon

Little Boy Blue and the Man in the Moon

"When you coming home, dad?"

"I don't know when

But we'll get together then

You know we'll have a good time then"

Verse:

Well, he came from college just the other day

So much like a man I just had to say

"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"

He shook his head, and he said with a smile

"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys

See you later, can I have them please?"

Chorus:

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon

Little Boy Blue and the Man in the Moon

"When you coming home, son?"

"I don't know when

But we'll get together then, dad

You know we'll have a good time then"

Verse:

I've long since retired, my son's moved away

I called him up just the other day

I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"

He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I can find the time

You see, my new job's a hassle,

and the kids have the flu

But it's sure nice talking to you, dad

It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me

He'd grown up just like me

My boy was just like me

Chorus:

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon

Little Boy Blue and the Man in the Moon

"When you coming home, son?"

"I don't know when

But we'll get together then, dad

We're gonna have a good time then"

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Harry F. Chapin / Sandy Chapin

Cat's in the Cradle lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc