Why do people have this thing about their roots?' Klinsman asked Karen when the laughter subsided. ‘Is it really that important?’

'Only if you don’t have any,' said Karen, 'Most of us take our roots for granted. We know where our mother and father came from and probably our grandparents, maybe even our great grandparents, but not all people have this foundation and it can be a big miss. The people who suffer most are orphans who know nothing at all about their origins. Many will spend their entire lives worrying and wondering about where they came from and who their folks really were.'

'I guess that’s why adopted kids often insist on tracing their real parents,' said Mike Kellerman.

'Exactly that,' replied Karen. 'And it causes such distress because it's construed by the folks who brought them up as ingratitude. But it's not. It's just something the kids have to do. They can't help themselves.'

'So what's Mac's problem?' asked Kellerman.

'I suspect he's just mildly curious,' smiled Karen.

Author: Ken McClure