My children are old enough
to know it is Father Day
but the younger two
are not old enough
to work or buy gifts

so my girlfriend got the gift
an electronic Sudoku game
and my daughter and son
gave it to me
(no it was not wrapped,
except with their delight on their faces
giving me something
they knew I would like)

My nineteen year old
who just got his first summer
college area sub-leased apartment
but not enough money for food
or toilet paper
decided to text me this message
“Happy Fathers Day Pops! ”
at 9: 33 a.m. the day before
just in case he forgot
to wake up
before noon the next day

My other son
The eighteen old
Who headed off to college a little early
Sent me an ecard

“Happy Fathers Day”

It’s too bad,
I can’t be home this weekend,
but Happy Fathers Day! ”

and it reminded me
that just being remembered
is the greatest gift
one can ask for
from teenagers
on Fathers Day