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Little Man

You know how you watch movies made in the ’50s and there’s always some wise-cracking twelve year old kid whose voice hasn’t even changed, but he talks like a gangster, and you think, that could never happen in real life?

We were on the bus the other day, and this twelve year old boy in a newsboy cap and a button down shirt got on cradling a tiny kitten in his arms. Paul was, of course, enraptured, turning around in his seat to moon over the baby kitty. The kid smiled at Paul and said kindly, “Do you want to pet him, little man?”

Paul got flustered that a Big Boy actually talked to him and turned around in a hurry, and I had to look away from Todd so we didn’t both crack up right in the poor kid’s face.

Apparently the people who said, “If Bush wins again, I’m moving to Canada,” weren’t just posturing this time.

Kischer [an immigration lawyer] believes people are genuinely serious about making the move. He says his firm charges for consultations and Americans are paying.

“They’ve spent money and time here to take a look at the possiblity of immigrating to Vancouver, so I think they’re very serious.”

Kischer estimates Bush’s election victory could result in double the number of American immigrants coming to Canada. - CBC News

When we came here, it was on Todd’s work visa. The next step is to become a landed immigrant, which will cost us about three thousand dollars total, and give us the rights of citizens minus the right to vote. In 2007, we can apply to become citizens. The month of free rent we signed up for when we signed the lease, which was originally earmarked for a digital SLR camera, is now going directly to our landed immigrant fund.

Because we knew the work visa would expire in November, Todd responsibly filled out all the paperwork a month early. We were getting progressively more nervous as the days passed without any word from the Canadian government. Finally, just two days after the election, Todd received a voice mail from the immigration department, telling him he was $75 short on his paperwork fee. He paid it instantly, laughing that he was lucky they weren’t trying for $7,500 - no mistake that they waited until after the election to call!

The next day, the phone rang.

Immigration Person Hi. I’m calling about your work permit?

Sage Oh, hi there. Did you get the fee and everything?

Immigration Person Yes, everything is in perfect order. I just wanted to let you know that Todd’s permit, and Paul’s permit, will come in about a week. Your permit will take about two weeks. Because one of them had to be late - with the late fee and all - I thought it made more sense to make yours be the late one.

Sage Yes, yes, absolutely. That makes perfect sense.

Immigration Person I just didn’t want you to worry when your permit wasn’t in the envelope with the others.

Sage Thank you. Really. I would have panicked. After the election - it’s twice as important that we stay in Canada.

Immigration Person laughs and laughs, then says in a warm, sweet voice We like it here too. ”