TOM
                         It's not what I thought it would
                         be.  I never felt both joy and fear
                         at once!  I just can't...stop
                         smiling.  Until I think of the
                         medical bills, clothing, schools,
                         orthodontics...I needed braces, but
                         Candice seems to have good teeth,
                         praise God.  And then there are all
                         the first times.  First time he
                         falls down.  First time he walks. 
                         First time he loses a tooth.  His
                         first report card...first
                         girl...first heart break.  God, I
                         can't ever think about his college
                         right now.  Except that it's going
                         to be Notre Dame!  Football
                         scholarship.  I'm scared.  I feel
                         like I don't even know what I'm
                         doing.  Me, responsible for another
                         life when I'm not sure whether its
                         wipe my nose, blow my ass or wipe
                         my ass and blow my nose.  What will
                         I say to him when he comes to me
                         after someone has hurt him?  Or if
                         he falls out of a tree?  Or comes
                         home all bloody from roller
                         bladeing or God knows what.  There
                         is something I do know.  I'm not
                         going to be the old man my father
                         was.  I won't tell him he's stupid
                         or lazy, or "use the brain God gave
                         ya".  I won't speak to my son like
                         that.  I won't break his spirit. 
                         I'll be there to build him up when
                         he's down.  I'll be there to tell
                         him he can do anything if he works
                         hard enough.  And I'll hug
                         him...and kiss him...and I won't
                         throw my shoe at him if he crosses
                         in front of the TV during a game. 
                         I won't kick him or slap him or
                         send him to his room and leave him
                         alone in the dark.  What kind of
                         way is that to develop and nurture
                         a life?

               Pause

                                   TOM
                         I do know that I'll talk to him.  I
                         will not ignore my son, my child. 
                         I'm going to be a big part of my
                         kid's life.  I know I won't always
                         know the right thing to do.  But
                         knowing what not to do?  Now that's
                         where I kick ass.

               The song "Five O ' Clock Whistle" by Mavis River is heard. 
               The lights fade.