I was browsing in a store today

Found a photo of a little girl standing next to an elephant

Reminded me of the time when you were two

Asking me for an elephant



Of course the answer was no

You reasoned and you pried

Came up with answers to where he would sleep and dine

For two solid weeks you cried and begged and weeped



Then one day I come home and you changed your request

Alright, if I cant have an elephant Ill take a Gerbil instead

Magic words spoken to a dad who was relieved

Not to hear Please Daddy buy me an elephant once again



I turned around before I hit the door

Off to the local pet store

I brought you two Gerbils and all the stuff

To fit into cages, spinning wheel, water bottle and food



As I was leaving on the Gerbil Mission relieved

The elephant request was gone

You looked up at your mother and said Thats Want I Really Wanted

If I had asked for that first the answer would have been no



So the two year old got over on her father

And she knew how to win

Ask for something bigger than what you really want

Not sure how she learned that but I think her mom taught her well



All I know is she got over

She won the bigger prize

She learned how to control her father

Ive been losing ever since.



So dads beware when your daughter

Looks up to you with teary little eyes and says

I want an elephant

Just go buy a Gerbil instead



Copyright August 2004

Kerry Doc Pardue