maskormenace | 02

As a professor, whenever a holiday comes, it's always an opportunity for learning, and today happens to not be an exception, despite the personal nature of the holiday.

I suspect there are not many who celebrate such things, but perhaps it is a nice time to speak of them, considering it's father's day. I'm reflecting on fathers of myth, of course, not real ones -- but, ah, if you need someone to listen, I am, of course, here to listen.

There are, unfortunately, not a terribly high amount of good fathers in mythology, at least from my world. Sometimes, if you think of yourself as a poor parent, you can at least remember that you are no Zeus, or Hiranyakashipu. One was merely...devoted to sowing his progeny around Greece, as we all know, but Hiranyakashipu attempted multiple times to murder his son, because he worshipped a god he hated. [ A soft chuckle, and a shake of his head. ] I worried about moving too much, with mine! I suppose things could be worse. Then again, there is also Cronus, the god who ate his sons, [ he starts ticking on his fingers, ] Tantalus, Izanagi, Abraham...

Well, we're not short on those, are we? [ A soft chuckle, and a shake of his head. ]

I suppose there's something to be said, when we consider ourselves bad parents, yes? Not that we should ever excuse ourselves. [ A beat. ] I suppose I'm just...thoughtful, today. Moreso than I thought I would be. [ Another pause. ]

Are there others out there, who are thinking of things like this today?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Touché. And that's why the disdain for Abraham, eh?

Oh yes, correct. If I can keep my son safe through the worst of his teenage years, Abraham has no excuse.

How old is he now?

By now? Sixteen. He's...very gifted. He was sent away to a boarding school about a year and a half ago.

Earning the best marks, headed off to university and an office job after?

Oh, I don't think he would be happy in an office job.

He's a builder. He'll do better with his own thing.

An architect, then?

Oh no, something much more grand, I think. He is already a brilliant inventor. Very gifted.

The king of England, then.

[There's a little bit of a tease in Alfie's voice.]

[ A laugh. ]

If he wanted it, nothing could stop him.

You're very lucky I haven't got a kid, or we'd be arguing right now.

I'm sure if you met him... Jon is very impressive. It's hard to deny him anything he truly wants. He is, however, humble.

Although if you had one, I would welcome you to this hell that is being an overprotective father.

I'm sure it's fucking terrifying. It is with my nieces and nephews, but with one of my own--

Yes, it's... it's a great and terrible burden.

But it has its rewards.

I always wanted a girl. A little girl.

[ A pause. ]

Oh? Why so specific?

Well, I'd love a son. Of course I would. But I'd worry about a son less. And a girl - a girl is easier to protect, yeah? Boys run off and get into all sorts of trouble, but girls are quieter.

[A pause.]

Generally. My own sister was a fucking hellraiser.

You would worry about your boy less, but he could get into more trouble?

[ A laugh. ] A little bit gendered, isn't that?

I suppose I can see it, though. Many men seem to want a daughter more than a son.

Boys are better equipped to help themselves. They need less worry.

[And because he'd been here long enough to know how that sounds to the modern ear, he adds:]

It's a harder world for women and girls, where I'm from. But if I did have a boy, I wouldn't want him any less.

Mm, well, Henry the eighth you are not.

[ A beat. ]

Although it can be understandable. We all want to protect our children.

And we all find out that we can't always.

No, no we cannot. That's... that's very true. As much as we may want to, sometimes that's simply not possible.

Is he grateful, your boy? Does he understand what you've done for him?

Jon? Oh, I'm sure he does. He's bright.

He knows precisely the lengths I have gone.

You make it sound ominous, when you keep putting it like that.

audio

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