[MG1]

PROUD CANADIAN

A US FIRST GRADE TEACHER EXPLAINS TO HER CLASS THAT SHE
IS AN AMERICAN. SHE ASKS HER STUDENTS TO RAISE THEIR
HANDS IF THEY ARE 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 REALLY ANGRY. "THAT'S NO REASON," SHE
SAYS LOUDLY. "WHAT IF YOUR MOM WAS A CRAPPY HOCKEY
PLAYER, AND YOUR DAD WAS A CRAPPY HOCKEY PLAYER? WOULD
THAT MEAN THAT YOU'RE A CRAPPY HOCKEY PLAYER TOO?"

A PAUSE, AND A SMILE. THEN, SAYS KRISTEN, "NOPE! THAT'D
MEAN I'M AN AMERICAN!"