AMERICANS

A first grade teacher explains 

to her class that she is an American.

She asks her students to raise

their hands if they were American too.

Not really knowing why but wanting

to be like their teacher, their hands

explode into the air like flashy fireworks.

There is, however, one exception.

A girl named Kristen has not

gone along with the crowd.

The teacher asks her why she

has decided to be different.

"Because I am not an American."

"Then", asks the teacher,

"What are you?"

"I'm a proud Canadian,"

boasts the little girl.

The teacher is a little perturbed now,

her face slightly red.

She asks Kristen why she is a Canadian.

"Well, my mom and dad are Canadians,

so I'm a Canadian too."

The teacher is now angry.

"That's no reason,"

she says loudly.

"What if your mom was a moron,

and your dad was a moron.

What would you be then?"

A pause, and a smile.

"Then," says Kristen,

"I'd be an American."