Pass Down Gratitude

'Thanks, Dad.'
It was kind of cool to be out here after all. This place had a different feel than back home, where Tommy would call him over and they'd waste the afternoon laughing at Adult Swim cartoons that weren't even funny. Adam kind of liked it here.

Those simple words meant more to Rick than Adam could anticipate. Adam didn't know why his father acted in a way he'd never seen before. It was no different a mandatory response than when Rick dropped him off at school, or gave him lunch money to spend on Pokemon cards. But it was different this time.

Even though Adam said the words the same, it was strange to hear them in this context. After all, his Dad dragged him out to the middle of nowhere and made him live a day of the stupid, boring life these village folk led. But Adam said thanks because he actually meant it. It was strange to Adam.

All those times Rick gave him things he wanted: presents, tickets to shows, spending money... Adam didn't really mean it. It was just something you said when a person gives you what you want. Adam was so focused on the things he wanted, he never thought much about the person giving him those things.

This time it meant a lot to Rick to hear those words. For some reason, this 'thank you' meant a lot more than the countless other 'thank you's. Adam paused to recount that his father received them with just as much indifference as Adam gave them. But this time, Rick gave something Adam didn't want, so Adam had no obligation to thank Rick. But he said it of his own volition. Maybe it was the first genuine expression of gratitude in Adam's life, because just then Adam began to understand what gratitude really meant.

It's appreciating the tough, unpleasant challenges set before you by someone who cares about you, to make you stronger, happier, and a better person in the end.

Adam was not grateful for the toys and fun exciting entertaining things his father gave him, and his father knew that. Rick was even okay with that, because how could Adam? He got those things with no effort and those things made no lasting benefit to him.

But this trip, Adam realized, was something that Rick was grateful to have experienced as a young man. Rick went through all this trouble to share it with his boy Adam, so too was Rick was grateful that Adam received his sharing.

"Did your Dad take you out like this too, when you were a boy, Rick?"

Rick's voice went a little dry. "... No." A wet bead formed around his eye and he looked away.

Then Adam understood why this 'thank you' meant so much more than all the other 'thank you's. They walked back to the car silently the rest of the way.

The Death of Hope and Reason

The Death of Hope and Reason

I wanted to see the plant die. That would be the appropriate conclusion. I had not thought about it and I had not watered it. Now it is drooping and sorrowful. I do not have the heart to water it now, in the brief moment I am aware of its misery, because I will not think of it again. Helping it now with no hope of continuance does not promote health, but decay.

The tooth I chipped was not the failing one I was expecting and awaiting to suffer. The chipped tooth was next to that. A tore hunk of bread (as an afterthought to a thoughtful salad and nutritious sandwich) was the irony. My meals had been frying oil potato and late night burger for consecutive weeks, chased down with cola in the three to four hours before dawn. I felt the damage on my teeth and was inclined to take reversing action. It was not even the telling cavity that caved to a crust of bread, just an average of the lot. There are no safe assurances. All these teeth are deficient, bare, vulnerable.

I liked the plant. I saw light green stalks emerge around the stalks as evidence of health. I did not prefer it to grow, but that was the bargain and an acceptable one. When I moved in I picked it out from a selection of more flowery, more trite competitors. Then I spent several shopping trips on a suitable home. Telephone booth red and round. The walls of my room were painted red by the landlady, so I was pleased.

A few times I watered it between long droughts yet the plant wasn't deterred. I felt comforted.

If I manage to water and operate the window blinds regularly, that would be an indication I was doing O.K. That went the thought. The plant's well being was an indisputable demonstration of my healthy condition.

Servo the EmotionBot

Servo: But I wanted to make it clear I was asking him how he was doing and not just giving him a greeting.

Matty: There's no way to ask that, Servo. People don't care how anyone else really feels, it's all just pretending.

Servo: So when you ask me, are you pretending too Matthew?

Matty: No, Servo. When I ask you I really mean it

A fictional screenplay about a prototype Robot created to experience Emotions for people who don't have them. And the orphan boy who rescues him and becomes his friend.

Childhood Masturbation

Around age 8, I found that I could touch my dick to the floor when I did push ups. It was kind of sneaky and I knew it wasn't undetectable, I just figured like most things kids do, adults might notice but wouldn't pay attention. So one evening while watching 'Jeopardy!' in the living room, with my mom and dad on the couch, I did push-ups on the carpet and kind of humped the ground each time I went down. My mom caught me...

Comforting Words from my Parents

Why don't you like this? Can't you see your feelings are wrong? Don't you realize *this* is what you're supposed to feel? (Explains how I should feel). Now go think about what you did wrong.

A Discussion with a Classmate about our Futures

I may fail. That seems the likely outcome. But if I succeed, and when I do, I want to succeed with the way I believe in.

A New Frand

I went downstairs with the plush polar bear to show the Husky I had a new friend and I didn't need her or her grumpy attitude and touchy fussiness anymore. But she wasn't there in her usual sleeping spot. She was one step ahead of me. The basement was restored to its rightful owner and surely she was there. She was first to demonstrate that didn't need me either.

Reason for Leaving Past Employment

"Why did you leave so many jobs?"

"You, as an employer, can find someone to replace me if I leave. Someone else will take my place.

But if I don't look out there for what I need, nothing will come to me to take its place."

A Frank Entrepeneur

"Sorry it's against company policy to allow coworkers to date."

"Well, I'll leave the company in that case."

"You don't need to do that, before you two became close we had already planned reorganization of Jane's division, and unfortunately she was one of the people we had to let go."

"That's bullshit. You're firing her because you want me to keep working. "

Living The Dream

Chapter 1: This is how my job interview will go down

Mr. Sherman, there's a brilliant individual I'd like you to meet. The contact speaks my full name then nervously backs out of the room.

Sherman is a portly red-cheeked man. Always looks reclined back in his chair, even when he's leaning forward. Mild bald spot on his head. Fat stubby fingers and preferential to cheap cigars.

Of course he is prejudiced man. Anything foreign or unconventional makes him uneasy and an enemy.

The Taxi Guru

How do ideas spread? One person at a time.
I can't always make reality carry out my ideas. But I can make stories.

The Taxi Guru

"most people are sheep. and there's nothing wrong with that on its own. their role is to stabilize society. they fall in the middle of the statistical distribution.

but some people are on the outskirts of that distribution. their role is to move society towards something different than what it currently is.