It’s Saturday morning at Ronald McDonald’s,
a happy place where a red-haired clown holds sway
and kids find toys in every Happy Meal box.

It’s a happy place where we single fathers bring
our weekend kids to kick off two days of
compressed amusement, recreation and happiness.

My little girl and I sit and talk, between
bites of muffins and sips of hot chocolate,
about school, friends, pets … mommy and home.

I advise, cajole, console, praise and concur.
And if melancholia intrudes, I beat it back
into hiding with jokes and silliness.
“Oh, daddy, you’re so funny.”

When it’s time to go, I noogy her head and we’re off.
There are games to play, movies to see, treats to eat,
and happiness to sustain untll Sunday evening
when I bring her back to her full-time home and I
go back, alone, to mine.