ATLAS




Atlas holding up a celestial map”. Sculpture by Artus Quellinus. (17th century). Royal Palace in Amsterdam.NEXT CHAPTER TITLE: "PLEASE OFFICER, DON'T TAKE MY DAD AWAY"

OR: "MOM'S RESTRAINING ORDER"

Children are fragile - the world may come and kick in their doors quickly enough. Will parents be there for protection, or will they be the ones doing the kicking? What a vulgar thought. What a vulgar reality . . .

The titles above are based on true stories that happened this week. Don Juan’s mother has a restraining order out on her as a condition for her release from jail for God only knows what. And Angel’s father got drunk on Thanksgiving night and had the cops called on him.
Wounded. I guess I’m feeling a little bit wounded. As a teacher I feel like I’m responsible for carrying the weight of the world and it’s wearing me down - like I’m expected to have the strength of Atlas, when I have the vulnerability of Achilles. And if you trip while carrying the world on your shoulders you’ve got one hell of a mess on your hands.

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