Jan 31, 2020
Prompt - 1/23/20
Write a piece in which a character develops a new understanding.
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Prompt - 1/23/20
Write a piece in which a character develops a new understanding.
Wake up Call
“Come on. Up. Up.”
(I blink at both the light and the sight in front of me. Bobby has found me asleep on the closet floor. Groans.) “What are you doing?”
“Johnny got an intervention. It’s about time you got one too and since I’m the only person you listen to and you only do that about half the time, I’m it.”
(He reaches out to help me up.)
“I don’t need an intervention. I just need to be left alone.”
“Yeah,” he nods. “Because getting falling down drunk and sleeping in a closet is something all seventeen year olds do.”
“How did….,”
“The dragon downstairs was only too happy to tell me until she realized I was Johnny’s friend and not Shannon’s boyfriend,” he answers.
(I make it over to the bed and lay back down.)
“My head is killing me. Do we have to talk now?”
“You just have to listen,” he replies, sitting down beside me.
“Fine. Go ahead.”
He smirks, “What is it? Good to know, but I don’t need your permission?”
(Groans again and covers my eyes. He seems intent on bringing up every smartass remark I’ve made to him.)
“What is it?”
“Lay off Johnny about the LaRussos.”
(I glare at him and he holds up a hand to keep me from speaking.)
“Look, I know what they did. I agree that was a mean trick whether they meant to do it or not, but that is your problem with Daniel and Amanda. Not his. Maybe Amanda is going to hurt him. Maybe she won’t. Maybe he’s just transferring his feelings for Daniel to her. Maybe it’s true love. Whatever it is, whatever is going to happen, isn’t for you to say.”
“So, I’m just supposed to sit by and watch him get hurt?”
“If that’s what happens. Robby, it’s not your job to protect your Dad. He’s going to love who he loves, and you…, Listen…, it’s like this: You know here (touches my head) that Sid could be a nasty guy and that he wasn’t nice or loving to your dad or his mom when he was young, but here, (he touches my chest) Sid was a caring, loving, if somewhat crass, grandfather to you and husband to Mrs. Laura. You never saw the worst things he did. You weren’t alive then. You saw the Grandfather that you loved. It’s like that with the LaRussos for your dad. He knows, intentionally or not, they weren’t very kind to you, but he still loves them. He doesn’t see their bad traits. It doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love you, it’s just that he isn’t ready to talk about that yet, just like it took you a long time to be able to talk about that Sid wasn’t the nicest guy. Just like it isn’t your place to protect him, only you can solve your problems with them. You can’t keep putting your Dad in the middle. You once asked him, not to love Sid, but not to quit trying to make you not love him. And he did that. He back away from your relationship and was even able to see, a little, that Sid was good to you, and that he was taking something nice from you by trying to get in the middle when he thought you’d just get hurt. Now he needs you to do the same. You don’t have to love Amanda, but you have to lay off Johnny for doing it. Can you understand that?”
(I sit up and nod. He was right. After our talk after Sid gave me the money to save the dojo, Dad had backed off. He’d quit bad mouthing Sid in front of or to me and even called him and asked him to come to the hospital when I was hurt. I’m not ready to forgive or love Amanda, and especially Daniel, again, but I can back off. I can step back and see if she is good for him or not before getting involved.) “I can do that.”
“Good,” he smiles. “Now get a shower and get dressed. You smell like you got drunk on cheap wine and slept in a closet all night. I’ll take you out for breakfast before work.”
“It was Everclear.”
“Ugh. That stuff will eat a hole in your stomach,” he feigns gagging. “The joys of youth. Get going before the dragon thinks we’re plotting up here.”
“Yes, sir,” I laugh, heading down to my room to get that shower.
I've come to understand that compatibility is not always the butterflies in your stomach, but having a common goal for the future.
Here's to a happy and healthy 2024!
2023, for me, was probably one of the worst years in my life. From the stress caused by my son, to not working at all – and many things in between, I’m very happy that 2023 is done! I did manage to accomplish something – my published book – and I was lucky to spend the majority of my time with my grandson. While this also caused stress (I am almost 59 and far too old to be taking care of a 3…
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The Mantis Society was founded by his Eminence, Mantis, in 2001 as an impartial resource for international education. It covers: Philosophy, Education, Health, Environment, Aerospace, Entertainment and Politics.
The Mantis Society was founded by his Eminence, Mantis, in 2001 as an impartial resource for international education. It covers: Philosophy, Education, Health, Environment, Aerospace, Entertainment and Politics.
