[ WP ] You are Waldo . What 's your story ? Why are you hiding ?

Responsibility. 
 It's a heavy word, filled with heavy implications. We all have responsibilities though; keeping ourselves fed, a roof over our heads, looking out for our families and paying the bills. 
 But some of us have *extra* responsibilities that go over and above the norm. 
 Anyway, allow me to introduce myself. 
 I'm Waldo. 
 *That* Waldo. 
 You've seen me in endless children's books, in that stupid hat and stupid scarf. The same striped sweater, the walking cane and the round glasses. You've spent time as a child finding me, or you've sat with one of those books in your lap, helping your children or your nieces and nephews find me. 
 There probably is n't a person alive who has n't sat in a dentist chair and found me on a ceiling poster, or flicked through a book while bored at a doctor's visit. 
 And that's the fucking worst thing about it; it's *insidious*. 
 You've all been indoctrinated. Every single one of you has been fooled by clever marketing to search for my face; to try and sniff me out wherever you are. It's diabolical in its cleverness and I salute my father for coming up with such a devious plan. 
 You see, after I refused to take on his mantle and become his successor, he started hunting for me. 
 But my family has certain *gifts* you see, for not being seen. 
 Using that power to my advantage, I eluded him for decades, hiding amongst normal people, living out a normal life - free from the crushing responsibilities of my heritage. 
 Frustrated and old, he wished to pass that responsibility on to me - to ensnare me in his doom. 
 But I *refused*. 
 He found ways to communicate with me - messages left where he knew I would see them. 
 *What about the children, Waldo? * one said. 
 But he knew what he was asking. 
 How long had his own servitude gone on for? How many generations? How could he do that to his *only son? * 
 I suppose he wanted an end to it though; because until I accepted his mantle and became his successor, he was trapped. 
 Until I took his place, he would be immortal and ancient, doomed to repeat the same cycle *for eternity*. 
 And that's why he made the books, disseminating them throughout the world, so all the children of the Earth would be looking for me, wherever I went. 
 But they will *never* find me. 
 I will eschew my family responsibilities until the day I die. 
 This I vow on my life. 
 
 *~ Waldo Claus*
