"I can't tell you," chanted the chorus of starfish. "But if you go to the deep cave, you can ask the octopus. Maybe she can help you."
The three-headed octopus, played compellingly by Charlotte, Nicco and Zeya, delivered grim advice, putting this critic in mind of the moral dilemma that was Sophie's Choice:
"Give a scale to each of the other fish. You won't be pretty, but this will make you happy."
And of course it did.
Bravo!
The very next day, the kindergartners pulled off another grand performance. They invited dads into the classroom, handed us the most beautiful Father's Day cards ever fashioned from construction paper, staples and crayons, and served us hot coffee and fresh doughnuts.
At Friday's graduation ceremony, I wished I could slow time. One moment my wife says she's pregnant, the next moment our daughter has finished kindergarten, two major events bracketed by endoscopic adventures. Such are the joys of middle-aged fatherhood.
She turns 6 next month, so already, there's another milestone just down the road.
In 10 years, my daughter can drive me back to the Pasadena Endoscopy Center.
To my dad, to your dad, to dads everywhere, happy Father's Day.
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steve.lopez@latimes.com
