One day, the Fool came to town and went straight to the cold heart of the city - to the seat of wealth and power. The Fool knocked on every door inviting one and all to, "Come out and play." The town's businessmen, religious and political leaders and people of prestige just laughed at the Fool and slammed the door in his face. They were much too busy and much too important to be involved with such nonsense. Knowing no disgrace and feeling no shame, the Fool could not be discouraged and he merrily skipped to the outskirts of town - to the ghettos, to the slums, to the barrio, to the projects. Knocking on every door and window, the Fool invited one and all to, "Come out and play." The poor and the lowly were leery of the stranger, but they had little to lose so they listened to his stories and his songs. As they watched the Fool dance in jubilant thanksgiving, all forgot their troubles. The people felt liberated from the oppression all around them. They felt free to express their own joy of life. They felt empowered to use their imagination and their creativity.

The Fool led them to the playground were all joined in the laughter, and in the singing, and in the dancing. At mid-day, they snacked together. Although food was scarce, what little each person possessed was transformed, through sharing, into a feast for all. No-one went hungry. As the days passed, strangers who lived next door to one another were recognized as neighbors. Where once survival was a struggle, peoples' needs were suddenly being met. Hope blossomed and flourished.

Each morning, the once down-hearted rushed to the playground to listen to the Fool tell his tales. All laughed, all sang, all danced and all joyfully played from

dawn to dusk. At evening, everyone returned home with hearts renewed. The playground community quickly grew as word of the Fool's healing power spread. Religious and political leaders, businessmen, and people of prestige became fearful of the Fool. They were afraid that the poor and the lowly would no longer be dependent upon them. To protect their power and financial security, they plotted against the Fool.

Early one morning on the first day of the week, the community gathered at the playground, but the Fool did not show. Some heard that the Fool was run out of town. Others heard he was killed. All were saddened. With the setting sun, the sullen crowd started home. Suddenly, two children came running into the playground shouting, "We played with him this morning along the road! We sang and we danced with him today in the street! We snacked with him!" The children's ecstasy became contagious and soon everyone was dancing and singing. The spirit of laughter and joy and playfulness and imagination and creativity was too compelling to contain. The message of the Fool, "Come out and play," spread from town to town to all the ends of the earth. The innocent ones believed and rejoiced. The influential and mighty tried to suppress the message, but nothing could stop the good news of joy and laughter.

To this day, every April in cities and towns from North to South and from East to West there is celebration for the joyful one who proclaimed to all, "Come out and play."

Happy April Fool's Day!