When You Were Older
“I sat in the third row of the auditorium, between my mother and my father. They had to lean over me to talk to each other. To say all the things I didn’t want to have to overhear. It was painful.
My mother was prepping my father on how not to hurt Ben’s feelings regarding his first dramatic performance.
‘Now, you say something encouraging to him, you hear? Even if he’s bad.’ ‘Well, I don’t think that’s much of a way to raise a boy. Calling bad good.’ ‘I didn’t mean you had to say it’s good if i...t isn’t. Just be encouraging.’ ‘Like how?’ ‘Oh, I don’t know …’ she said impatiently. ‘Why do I always have to think of these things for you? You have a brain. How about you say something like, “Well, Ben, if you keep going with this acting thing you might really get somewhere.” ’ Long silence.
Then my father said, ‘Just keep your fingers crossed that he’s good.’ When Ben finally marched out on to the stage holding a painted wooden sword, I could feel the jolt of electrical tension that ran between the two of them.MoreLess
My mother was prepping my father on how not to hurt Ben’s feelings regarding his first dramatic performance.
‘Now, you say something encouraging to him, you hear? Even if he’s bad.’ ‘Well, I don’t think that’s much of a way to raise a boy. Calling bad good.’ ‘I didn’t mean you had to say it’s good if i...t isn’t. Just be encouraging.’ ‘Like how?’ ‘Oh, I don’t know …’ she said impatiently. ‘Why do I always have to think of these things for you? You have a brain. How about you say something like, “Well, Ben, if you keep going with this acting thing you might really get somewhere.” ’ Long silence.
Then my father said, ‘Just keep your fingers crossed that he’s good.’ When Ben finally marched out on to the stage holding a painted wooden sword, I could feel the jolt of electrical tension that ran between the two of them.MoreLess
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