The Fat Lady is Singing

The Finale.  The final curtain call.  No matter how hard you scream or how many lighters you light or how many cell phones you hold up, this band ain't coming back.  This is IT!  There is enough post scripts in this story to create, well a sequel.  But it ain't happening folks, this story is done.  Let me tell you how it ends.

Phone rings, and my powers of deduction tell me is the BOD (Boss of Director, you may remember her from earlier tellings of this tale.)  Yes, I looked at the called id, but it did not say BOD on it, so I had to figure it out from the phone number.  Bob was on the phone, so I knew it was me that was bringing the ship down.

BOD:  Is Bob available?

Me:  No, sadly he is on the phone earning a living so I can pay the taxes that fund your salary. 

BOD:  I guess I can talk to you then.

Me:  Yeah, if you want to put this baby to bed, that would be your best bet.

BOD:  Well, inspite of the fact that we have known about you being Jewish for over a year, we have been planning this Christmas Concert for well over a week and we could not possibly make any changes to include your daughter.  But we will consider it for next year.

Me:  So, let me get this straight, you are knowingly planning a program that excludes my daughter?

BOD:  Oh, nothing of the sort.  You can come and talk to the class and read a story and play some games if you want. 

Me:  Ok, can Hannah's class learn the song?

BOD:  I guess that would be ok, because there are only 15 kids in that class that will be subjected to learning something that might cause them to burst into flames.

Me:  You know being inclusive is never a bad thing.  It makes me sad that it is so hard for you to be that way. 

BOD:  Well, we have been planning this for a whole week.  I am sure you understand.

Me:  I guess this will have to do.  We wouldn't want you to scrap your hard work of a week.

BOD:  You will need to tell Director your availability and that I said it was ok for Hannah's class to learn the song, but that it wouldn't be included in the program.

Me:  Inclusiveness is never a bad thing and it would be good for the Carol Stream Pre-School to be inclusive, but I guess it is still a private club after all.

BOD:  Yup, have a nice Thanksgiving.

Now, this is not actually how it went down, but the basic facts are correct.  They will think about being inclusive in the future.  But, this time they are not going to include my daughter.  I guess we are a little bit further along than when we started, because they are letting me do something about Hannukah.  Perhaps the next family won't have to fight so hard.

If you want to complain about it to the park district, have at it.  It is a public concert and they are not going to sing anything but legal Christmas carols.  Not a true representation of the community, but it is what it is.

Things are better than they were 10 years ago, better than 20 years ago, and in another 10 years they will be better, because people like me, like you complain and force folks out of their comfy corners.

This story is over, but this mission isn't.  I will always advocate for my kids.  Don't even try and stop me.