THe FReCKLeD FINGeR

    That time has come again.  The time of year when all of my father's friends from his former land, Massachusetts, come through Philadelphia to pick him up and head on a golfing trip.  The routine is usually  a case of beer and some pizzas, before they all head south for golf weather.  It is usually a dull time, but today was weird.  It was about halfway through the case of beer when I noticed something.  Now all of these men are into their 50s and have children, some even grandchildren, of their own...  and that is usually the subject of their banter.  Well as they drank and ate away, the conversation about one of the men's children came up.  So my father, after a awkward look towards me, turns to the group and says:

'Well you know what they say...  children are God's punishment for enjoying sex.' 

    Everyone laughs.  He then looks over at me while still with a fading smile, but that quickly turns to a frown and look that is somewhere in the middle between disappointment and embarrassment. 

    We never hug.