At the request of the author of this lyric poem, the original story on which this work is based is included. The newspaper article is first followed by a new poem by RHB. - poetheart 07/14/00
The Press of Atlantic City
KILL ME, DAD SAID; SO BOY, 10, STABBED HIM / TOMS RIVER SON FACES CHARGES AFTER ARGUMENT OVER CAKE ICING
Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2000
Byline: By KAREN SUDOL Staff Writer, (609) 978-2011
An argument about a missing container of chocolate-cake icing prompted a 10-year-old boy to fatally stab his father in their garage Monday night, authorities said Tuesday. The 38-year-old father, Andrew Harms, was stabbed once in the chest after placing a kitchen knife in his son's hand during the heated argument, telling the boy to stab him if he hated him so much. "The defendant responded by plunging the knife into his chest," said Ocean County Prosecutor E. David Millard, who did not release the boy's name because of his age. At about 8:45 p.m., Harms apparently brought his son out to the detached garage of their Adams Avenue home to discuss the missing container of icing away from the other children in the home. Harms suspected his son had taken the frosting. The discussion became heated and emotional, investigators said. Harms, who was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed about 175 pounds, then apparently picked up the 5-inch-long knife and gave it to his son, who stabbed him. Harms died an hour later at Community Medical Center here. Millard said that leading up to the incident there had been some emotional turmoil between the father and son, who is a fourth-grader. He would not comment on any past problems between the two. There was one witness to the stabbing, said Millard, but he would not identify the person. The boy was arraigned Tuesday on charges of manslaughter and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He remains in the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center. The boy faces three years in juvenile custody but is unlikely to serve that time because of his age, Millard said. "An essential focus of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation and counseling," Millard said. "Such would appear to be appropriate goals in the present case." The juvenile also can't be tried as an adult. New Jersey law states a juvenile must be at least 14 to be tried as an adult. Harms, a welder who also was working at the nearby Furniture Showcase on Route 37, lived with his three children and fiancee in the home. His fiancee also had three children, Millard said. The boy's mother, who lives in Manalapan, was told of the stabbing Monday night, Millard said. No one answered the door at Harms' blue ranch-style home Tuesday. A tire swing and trampoline were set up on the side and back yards. Michael DiMaria, who worked with Harms at Furniture Showcase, said Harms was a "nice guy who worked there to make extra cash." "I just can't believe it," he said of the stabbing. "He just called yesterday afternoon." Other neighbors said the family was always together and involved in each other's lives. One Victor Avenue neighbor, Carole Lightbody, said she didn't know the family but often saw the children playing on her street. "What's happening to our young children at this young age that they want to stab their parents?" she said. "Something has to be done. I don't know what it is, but something has to be done."
Good Boys Do As They’re Told
(To the tune of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”)
Get home from school,
Dad’s out of his mind; Screaming,
“What did you do
With the fudge Duncan Hines?
Dammit, Good boys do as they’re told;”
He yells, “Good boys do as they’re told.”
Day after day,
Its always the same.
If its broken or missing,
I’ll take the blame.
But, Good boys do as they’re told;
Good boys do as they’re told.
When the yelling starts getting old,
Good boys do as they’re told.
Some fathers take their kids
out to play toss;
But mine gets a kick
out of proving he’s boss.
Saying, “Good boys do as they’re told;
Good boys do as they’re told.”
Then daddy takes me
out to the shed,
And hands me a knife saying,
“I wish I were dead!”
Well, you know, Good boys do as they’re told;
Good boys do as they’re told.
When the yelling starts getting old,
Good boys do as they’re told.
When the screaming starts getting old,
Good boys do as they’re told.
When the bitching starts getting old,
Good boys do as they’re told.
When it all starts getting old,
Good boys do as they’re told.by RHB © 2000