During our 504 meeting with the school staff, my wife and I mentioned that we'd like to read a short children's book to Charlie's classmates so that they could have a basic understanding of diabetes. Surely they would want to know why he was putting a blood sample into a strange device every couple of hours and why he was able to eat at times that they weren't.

The teacher and the principal thought it was a good idea, but the district official, who was there to make sure everything was kosher, suggested the principal have a look at the book before approving A Ruler, a Number 2 Pencil and Diabetes by Dr. Troy Apaches.

My initial thought was that this was strange. I mean it's a published children's book. What could possibly be offensive? Though, truth be told, it had been years since I read the book. I suppose I could have forgotten about some of the content.

In leafing through it, there was in fact a slight political undertone that might not be appropriate. Can't believe I forgot about this part.

Hi I'm Danny and I have diabetes. That means my pancreas no longer produces insulin, a hormone that turns food into energy. I hope there is a cure someday, but I know there won't be as long as George Bush continues to veto a bill which would allow federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

There was also a fair amount of graphic violence when opposing diabetic street gang members face off on the playground at recess armed with finger prickers in one hand and tubes of cake gel in the other.

And how could I have forgotten about the brief nudity as the book ends with a beautifully illustrated mid-afternoon sex scene between Danny's mom and dad with a caption that reads:

Alone at last.