Fadder
Yes, son.
I read Thoreau school insisted
otherwise I wouldntve but I like
English So I read him and was
struckunhappily when he wrote Men the mass of men lead lives of quiet
desperation
the boy let the phrase hang he didnt ask a question
Yes, he did. quickly thinking to himself that
the boy saw into himsaw him struggling with his faith
Then fadder If we didnt
What would that look like
Look like?
Yes If men and women around me are desperate wont they wellinevitably taint harm us who
look to them for care and guidance Wouldnt
they inaword pollute us too
You might understand that Thoreau
was making an observation, which perhaps should be limited to the people he
knew or with acquaintances he had then, and overall not a concern or condemnation
of others; or of us now.
No No I disagree Particularlynow fadder Camps Tribes Things are stretched tortured misshapen people seem more unhappy than
happy An I think thats sad
I think Thoreau knew
what he was talking about
It wasnt limited to those he knew
You’re a perceptive boy.
I don’t know what it would look
like if people didn’t lead lives of quiet desperation, or quiet
dissatisfaction, disappointment. It seems we’re unhappy with what we have. Perhaps we want more and feel we could have it but somehow it was taken from
us, at once in our palms, in our grasp, then suddenly gone before we could
close our hand.
We had it, but it got away.
the boy shifted his fanny on the
pew Are these hard on purpose Even in church it seems we arent supposed to
be comfortable My bum hurts from sitting
Would you like to stand?
Yes the boy hopped to his feet because he was small he stood easily in the
space between the edge of the pew he sat on and the back of the one ahead of
him
Im not unhappy
or sad or desperate
I should hope not, you’re still a
child, you don’t have to provide for yourself, your parents care for you. But
you might imagine other children who may not have parents, or parents of the
kind you do, or only one parent, children who otherwise struggle, otherwise haven’t
the security you do. Why
did he say thathe didnt know the boy
the boy had wandered inhe loved
skulking about the placethe grounds like
he could get in trouble but not get in trouble a church a sanctuary I dont know
if I can imagine that fadder An maybe if
I could I wouldnt
If you could you wouldn’t?
No I wouldnt
Would that be selfish?
No I dont
think so I think that would be me being
me I dont think thats selfish
No.
No
I don’t know what it would look
like.
Well its something I cant imagine even if I tried Thank
you fadder
You’re welcome.
fadder was mystified it was an odd conversation
he
wondered if the boy hadnt caught himseen him in an unguarded moment
he
was a stealthy boy
like a ghost
2315, Sunday,
2 12. 18
1313, Sunday,
9 12. 18
