The following story is part a new feature, the serialization of our columnist Wayne Weedon’s fictional work, Vectors. Wayne is a brilliant writer whose style consists of simple declarative statements that stick in your mind as he leads you through an intricate web of circumstances to reach the lesson he set out to teach.
Chapter 7: All's well that ends well
Mr. Graham and I were sitting at opposite ends of the kitchen table working on our laptops. When Mr. Graham went to the washroom, I peeked at his computer screen; he was writing an article, but he put the author down as Jack Excalibur. I became curious and I began reading it. It was about how our society is rotting from the inside out. This article compared Canada to Rome and Greece during their decline. Citizens in these decaying empires had too much time on their hands, and rather than using this spare time to develop themselves intellectually, culturally, and spiritually, they fell back onto their animal instincts and carnal desires. Today, Canadians have an abundance of leisure time which is being filled with fun and bodily desires, resulting in Canada moving towards a Sodom and Gomorrah society.
When Mr. Graham came back, I asked him what he was writing about. He told me he wrote a half-dozen syndicated newspaper columns under various pseudonyms. That’s how he made his living.
When I asked him if he really thought Canada was decaying like a pear from the inside out, he told me that history tells us, the first indication of a nation going into a decay mode is the disintegration of the family and this is what is happening in our society. He gave me a copy of a 1994 Carnegie Foundation report which he asked me to read and give my opinion, telling me things have only gotten worse since this report was written thirty years ago.
This report is about the USA, but as Mr. Graham stated, Canada always follows the USA. In 1960 only five percent of children were born to unmarried mothers. In 1990 the figure was 28 percent. In 1960, seven percent of children under three lived with only one parent, in 1990, 27 percent did. In 1960, less than one percent of children in the USA under eighteen experienced the divorce of their parents, in 1990, the figure was almost 50 percent of the children. In a mere four years, from 1987 to 1991, the number of children in foster care jumped by more than 50 percent from 300,000 in 1987 to 460,000 in 1991. Also, the number of single parent households is skyrocketing. Between 1950 and 1994, the percentage of children living in one-parent families nearly tripled due to a tenfold increase in divorce rates.
This report, Mr. Graham told me, is an indication of what he had been trying to explain. People in our society are consumed with fun, games, and carnal desires such as sex, indiscriminate eating habits, alcohol, and drugs. Individuals will not accept responsibility for anything, resulting in couples just wanting to have fun while continually bickering over who will take out the garbage, cook supper, mow the lawn, or change the baby’s diaper. Today, in Canada, there are more abortions than live births. This is because most people want their jollies but will not take responsibility for their actions. Very few people plan their lives and plan their futures.
The next day, after thinking about it, I asked Mr. Graham if he was serious when he stated people used more energy to pick out a new car than to pick out a spouse. He told me the average person confuses lust with love, believing the two are synonymous, however, they are antonyms, complete opposites. He stated people choose a spouse on physical attraction when, between married partners, there should be altruistic love. I’m beginning to understand, most people in this world have no idea what love is. They don’t understand why Mr. Graham kissing me gently on the forehead, in some respects, feels much better than a romp in the sack. One is spiritual, the other is physical. That evening, I had an epiphany, I had never known there was such a thing as spiritual love. I had never received love from my parents. To them I wasn’t a person, I was a possession whom they needed to control, much the same as if I was a workhorse, or a slave. I never knew what love is. How could I, when I never knew it existed. All I knew was selfish animal hunger and the need to control others.
Mr. Graham told me to sit down and write out exactly what I would like in a husband. I was to list what this man would look like, what his interests would be, what his relationship with me would be, and what kind of rapport he would have with his friends and family members. He said I should then ask myself where I could find such a man. He told me, if I wanted a Cadillac, I should not shop at a Kia dealership. He asked me to think about where I would be most likely to find such a man. It all sounded so cold and callous, but I did draw-up a list. I think I have come up with a good description of the man of my dreams. However, this man seems to be too good to be true.
Mr. Graham, when I showed him my list, asked me a very strange and embarrassing question. He asked me if I thought this fictional man of my dreams would want me. He stated love is a two-way street and, to be deserving of this man, I must reciprocate by having something to offer in return.
I changed the subject by asking Mr. Graham if he felt he was missing out on things by not watching the news on television. He stated that media news is inert, consisting of information which gives us something to talk about but cannot lead to any meaningful action. He went to his spare bedroom and came back with a book, Amusing Ourselves to Death. He told me that this book would explain it all to me. He suggested, after reading this book, I would be tempted to throw my phone away and never watch television again. I thought he was joking. However, I am only part way through the book, and I have now left my phone turned off. I decided I don’t need it.
I still find Mr. Graham sexually attractive, but I am satisfied in having him as just a friend, probably the only friend I have.
Yesterday, Mr. Graham came home with a new bed from Ikea. I helped him put it together and last night I slept in it. It’s comfortable and all that I really need. He still rubs my head and kisses me goodnight on the forehead. Even though it has become a routine, the kiss still makes me feel good, and I would miss it if he stopped.
I’ve decided not to move out. Mr. Graham wants me to help him with the special dinner he is planning for Maurice. So far, he hasn’t asked for room and board. I’ll bring this matter up sometime. I don’t see why we can’t come to an arrangement.
Tonight, Mr. Graham is cooking a rack of pork. It smells good. I’ve started jumping up right after we have eaten, cleaning up the kitchen, and doing the dishes. Surprisingly, Mr. Graham hasn’t commented on my new behaviour. But he was correct though, it does feel good to take charge of oneself and not procrastinate when one doesn’t feel like doing something.
I’m over my illness. Yesterday I went back to school. Nobody commented on my jeans, which are more comfortable than my old ones. Mavis asked me why I haven’t been answering her texts. I told her I’ve been too occupied with schoolwork. She went on and on about how she was beating my record at Candy Crush. I told her I have been too busy studying vectors and I didn’t have time for video games. She warned me, if I wasn’t careful, I would turn into a vector. I told her it was too late; I already have, and I like the feeling.
(The End)
