He always spoke of his son as 'the little one'; always spoke of him mournfully rather than hopefully. Cruel shouts and words moved the boy not; not even when he was a babe did the looming figure of authority have any sway over his temperament. Disappointment was the little one's only mentor, an old man's attempt to hold out a hand and guide him without raising the fist, without cutting the nose.
He tried, but he knew he was lost.
He spoke of the little one mournfully, but the little one did not speak of the old man at all.
Not lazy, poignant.
ReplyDeletepowerful and moving, definitely not lazy!
ReplyDelete