The Luck of the Draw, Maybe

"Enjoy yourself now!" the father said to his son.
"When you grow up its just going to be work."

I did a silent, inside groan. Poor kid!

His dad was training him to dread becoming an adult,

to dread work; to become like his Dad.

I suppose the father just wanted to tell his son to enjoy being a boy,

but given his morose tone, even that could not have worked.

It certainly is the case that a lot of people are trapped in their jobs,

and that a lot of jobs are drudgery. Perhaps he had such a job.

I have been one of the lucky ones, having had interesting work,

and it might be luck more than my own attitude,

but it was all I could do not to tell that boy that work--a job--

can be a wonderful experience, and that he should do his damnedest

to aim for something that really interested him.

He should, at least, try!

Instead, for once in my life, I said nothing. But it is nagging me.

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