{"id":4046,"date":"2019-06-26T14:57:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-26T14:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/developing-characters.com\/?p=4046"},"modified":"2019-06-26T14:57:00","modified_gmt":"2019-06-26T14:57:00","slug":"lesson-1-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/developing-characters.com\/?p=4046","title":{"rendered":"Lesson 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

By the time Raymond Langer got home from work, it was 7:30 at night, and Cyra and Caleb had eaten dinner, gotten Caleb ready for bed, and were reading quietly in the living room. When the door opened, Caleb didn\u2019t even look up, so absorbed was he in his small chapter book, but Cyra glanced at her brother, then closed her book and stood up. Looking back at Caleb as she headed for the foyer, she noted, with some gratification, that Caleb hadn\u2019t noticed her any more than he had their father\u2019s return.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood evening, Cyra,\u201d Raymond said as he hung his jacket on the rack next to the door. He spoke formally, as though he were visiting a business colleague. Or maybe, Cyra thought uncomfortably, as if she was a guest in his home. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDad,\u201d she said shortly. She often had trouble talking to her father, something that had never been a problem with her mother. Once or twice in the last five years, she had caught herself wishing that her mother had lived and her father died, but that made no sense (how could her father have died from her mother giving birth?), and it was also a horrible thing to think, especially about her father. Even if he was not exactly the kind of father she would have chosen if she could.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI assume you\u2019ve fed Caleb,\u201d Raymond said, picking up his briefcase and heading in the direction of his office.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNaturally,\u201d Cyra said, deciding this was better than \u201cDuh,\u201d but more of a sting than just \u201cYes.\u201d She followed him, surprising him when he turned around. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs something the matter, Cyra?\u201d he asked, giving her a stern look. He didn’t like to be sneaked up on.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a matter of fact, yes,\u201dshe replied. \u201cWe should speak in your office.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He frowned at her. \u201cIt is not for you to say, Cyra,\u201d he said. \u201cI am your father; it is inappropriate for you to tell me what to do.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cyra forced herself to stay calm. Her father could infuriate her to no end, sometimes. \u201cYou told me to tell you if Caleb ever started asking about the city,\u201d she said. \u201cI just thought it would be better to do that where Caleb can\u2019t hear us; the office seemed the logical choice.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Raymond sighed. \u201cCorrect, but disrespectful,\u201d he said, grudgingly acknowledging her point. Yet still, she thought, managing to reprimand her at the same time. He had a talent for that. \u201cCome.\u201d Gesturing for her to follow, he led her into his office on the other side of the foyer. She shut the door behind them, and sat in front of the desk; he, behind it. \u201cWell?\u201d he said. \u201cWhat did he want to know?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His impatient tone irked her. \u201cYou know, the only reason he wonders is because of you<\/i>,\u201d she said, even knowing it wouldn\u2019t help. But he had a way of making anything that went wrong seem like her fault, even when there was nothing she could have done to prevent it, and she was getting tired of it. He left her alone to deal with Caleb all day, every day, and then got upset when he discovered she hadn\u2019t done things his way? Even though he had never told her what his way was? It seemed highly illogical, but more than that, it was plain annoying, and to some extent, rude. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCyra,\u201d Raymond said, in a warning tone.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She sighed. \u201cHe asked what you did; where you work; what the city\u2019s name is; and if he could ever go there,\u201d she answered. \u201cI said you were an accountant, you work in an office at the company building, the city\u2019s called Boston, and I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll ever get to visit it.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Her father considered her for a time, and she him. She couldn\u2019t be sure what he was thinking, but she inferred from the disapproving and slightly worried frown that he was displeased with her answers. Well, what had he wanted her to do? Refuse to answer? Lie? Maybe. But neither of those would have worked, she knew they wouldn\u2019t have. Caleb was not only curious, he was relentless; the only way she\u2019d gotten him to stop talking about it in the first place was by shutting him down. And she had hated doing that. She wished she could take Caleb into the city, that they didn\u2019t have to hide here, that he didn\u2019t have to be some big secret no one could ever know about. But that was the way things were. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCyra,\u201d Raymond eventually said, \u201cdid it ever occur to you to simply not answer him?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There it was. She had known, known<\/i>, he was either going to say that, or tell her she should have lied. But since she was the one who actually knew Caleb, his personality, his tendencies, she thought her way was better. Try telling her father that, though, and she knew he would just get angry; that he would just tell her it was not her place to criticize him. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did, in fact, think about it,\u201d Cyra said, clearly surprising him; his expression was almost comically shocked. \u201cBut, upon consideration, I decided this would only fuel his curiosity, and tried to make your job and the city sound boring. I decided that would be far more effective, as Caleb would lose interest quickly if he became confused and bored with the subject. And it worked; he hasn\u2019t asked me since, and this was almost four and a half hours ago.\u201d She tried to speak calmly and rationally, to make her point without seeming disrespectful. But deep down, she knew it wouldn\u2019t matter how she said it; as long as she disagreed with her father, he was never going to be happy with her. She could live with that, though. And she could also live with disobeying him by raising Caleb her own way. He was happy, wasn\u2019t he? He had only asked about Boston once, hadn\u2019t he? And now that he\u2019d become bored by it, he was unlikely to ask again, right? That was the way she saw it. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But she and Raymond had never seen things the same. Cyra had inherited aspects of both her mother\u2019s and her father\u2019s personalities, and developed many all her own, and these factors all led to her and her father inevitably clashing. They were too similar in some ways, too dis<\/i>similar in others. When Delilah was alive, she had tempered them somewhat; but she was gone now. There was nothing to stop them from fighting, except themselves. Sometimes they did.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

More often not.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCyra,\u201d her father said eventually, slowly, carefully. He had clearly considered his words before speaking. That meant he was definitely angry, angrier than Cyra had first thought. Despite her attempts to try and be respectful, he had gotten mad regardless. Which only served to make her mad, too; the fact was that Cyra was expected to be Caleb\u2019s mother, and he left her to do this alone every day. He had hardly given her any instructions, even back when Caleb was a baby. Sure, he had referred her to a few parenting books in the library, but she hadn\u2019t found them particularly helpful. And other than that, the only real direction he had given her was the one about Caleb and the city and talking to him, Raymond. Yet he somehow expected her not only to know exactly how he wanted Caleb to be raised, but also to do so perfectly. It drove her mad.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Cyra said shortly, leaning back in her leather chair and crossing her arms. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Raymond\u2019s expression hardened, for the first time fully betraying his emotions. \u201cI do not appreciate your tone, young lady,\u201d he said. \u201cI am your father, and as such, there is a certain level of respect I deserve. Lately, you haven\u2019t met that level, Cyra, and I expect better from you. I would have you remember that raising Caleb is a privilege<\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cyra couldn\u2019t hold it in. \u201cPrivilege?\u201d <\/i>she demanded, sitting forward, gripping the arms of the chair tightly. \u201cAnd just who else do you think can raise him? Last time I checked, he\u2019s a secret<\/i>. You can\u2019t exactly hire a nanny.\u201d She glared at her father, fighting back tears of anger. She couldn\u2019t believe how unreasonable he was being.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am perfectly capable of raising him myself, Cyra,\u201d Raymond replied coldly. \u201cI choose to let you take care of him because it arouses less suspicion. But if I think you\u2019re not doing a good enough job, I would be fully within my rights to take away this privilege. I made it clear to you what I expect you to do, and from what I\u2019m seeing, you\u2019re not living up to the expectations I set for you.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cyra took a deep breath, forcing calm. \u201cYou\u2026made it\u2026clear,\u201d she said slowly, flatly. Not believing he actually thought that. Nothing could be further from the truth.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCrystal clear, Cyra,\u201d he said, resting his arms on the desk and folding his hands.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve barely given me any direction at all!\u201d Cyra exploded, jumping up. \u201cWhen I was eleven, a little girl, when I\u2019d just lost my mother and had no idea how to take care of a baby, all you did was tell me to read a parenting book! It was so bombastic and highfalutin I could barely understand half <\/i>of it! I certainly couldn\u2019t put its advice into practice. Besides, I\u2019ve shaped the way I take care of Caleb around his personality, the way he learns and processes things, who he is<\/i>. There\u2019s no one generic way to raise a kid, especially not one like Caleb! And I think the way I\u2019m doing it is working pretty well, thank you very much. This is the one and only time he\u2019s ever expressed any <\/i>kind of interest in your job, and I\u2019m fairly sure he won\u2019t ask again. If something starts boring him, he pretty much stops thinking about it, because he thinks there are so many other things out there to explore. And you want to know how I know that?\u201d she added, raising her voice as her father opened his mouth to interrupt. \u201cBecause I know Caleb<\/i>. Who spends almost every minute of every day with him? Who has taken the time and care to teach him and feed him and nurture his interests and love him? Me!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou think,\u201d said Raymond, standing slowly, \u201cthat I don\u2019t love him?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cyra paused. \u201cNo,\u201d she said, regretting saying that last part. But was it really the only thing he\u2019d heard? \u201cNo, I know you love him. But that wasn\u2019t my point.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Raymond said.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cyra looked up at him. \u201cYou do?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d her father replied, nodding, an understanding expression on his face. \u201cYou want me to spend more time with Caleb.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cyra blinked, taken aback. She had expected him to miss her point, but she hadn\u2019t expected him to so completely<\/i> miss it. \u201cThat\u2026\u201d She shook her head, puzzled. \u201cThat wasn\u2019t my point at all.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Raymond frowned. \u201cOh?\u201d he said. \u201cThen what, pray tell, was your point?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cyra sighed. \u201cMy point,\u201d she said quietly, \u201cwas that, as the one who has spent the most time with Caleb, I think I should have more say in how I <\/i>raise him.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There was a pause, as Cyra looked evenly up at her father, and he stared down at her stonily, a crease between his eyebrows. Neither one was willing to look away first, to submit. Cyra, because she was stubborn, and Raymond, because he wanted to establish his authority. Their staring contest continued for some time, until, without looking away, Raymond said, \u201cCyra, I would like you to go to your room.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cyra frowned. \u201cWhy?\u201d she asked.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI believe you need some time to think about authority and respect,\u201d Raymond answered. \u201cPlease go upstairs and remain in your room until morning. Perhaps we can talk then.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cyra crossed her arms. \u201cAre you willing to compromise?\u201d she asked.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCyra, as a father, it is my job to dictate how my children will be raised,\u201d he replied. \u201cThere is no reason for a compromise to be made. Now, go<\/i>.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cyra stared at her father for a few moments, then turned and swept out of the room. She was careful not to yank the door open, or slam it behind her, and she walked rather than stomped up the stairs. She proceeded calmly down the carpeted hallway to her room, and shut the door quietly behind her. Then she walked over to her bed, sat down gently, picked up her pillow\u2026and buried her face in it and screamed as long and as loud as she was able.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By the time Raymond Langer got home from work, it was 7:30 at night, and Cyra and Caleb had eaten dinner, gotten Caleb ready for bed, and were reading quietly in the living room. When the door opened, Caleb didn\u2019t … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":931,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-miscellaneous"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/developing-characters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/developing-characters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/developing-characters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/developing-characters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/931"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/developing-characters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4046"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/developing-characters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4047,"href":"https:\/\/developing-characters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4046\/revisions\/4047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/developing-characters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/developing-characters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/developing-characters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}