Cat’s Left the Cradle 2

~ Live & Learn

hair-long-man

WEDNESDAY. 9:30 PM.
Medium: FaceTime.
600 miles away, Son sits in his dorm room.
(Technology. A Miracle)

Eric: Hi Dad.
Dad: Hi Eric.
Dad: When’s your interview?
Eric: Friday at 8 am.

Dad adjusts his grip on the iPad to get a better look at Son.

Eric: What are you doing?
Dad: Take your cap off.
Eric: Why?
Dad: Take it off.
Eric: Why? (Here he comes. Here he comes.)
Dad: I’m only going to ask you one more time.

Eric takes hat off. Hair spills out. He quickly tucks it behind his ears and pulls it back.

Dad: Cut it! I want it cut before your interview.

Eric: No. They should want what’s in here rather than what’s on top here (pointing to the hair on top of his head).

Dad: Really? What is in there?  Tell me, please, what is in there? (Millennial. 21-year old man of the World. Immersed in wisdom. Never held a full time paying job. Hand grabbing for coins in Dad’s pocket.)

Eric: Dad, come on. I don’t have time. I’m not going to do it. I’m done talking about this. (I know what is coming next. Psycho. Man Possessed. Head spinning on shoulders. Spittle flying. Needs exorcism.)

Dad: Is my request unclear? Is any part of it confusing? (Dad was responsible for queuing up the interview for the Summer Internship. With big U.S. Company. Dad’s reluctant to pull out the hammer, but his hand is quivering.)

Dad:  You heard me. I won’t say it again.

Eric: Let it go Dad. Just let it go. (He’s clueless. Like a haircut will make any difference.)

Both sides are dug in.  Dad terminates FaceTime session abruptly. Father and Son don’t speak until he returns home on Friday.

FRIDAY NIGHT.
Medium: In person.
Son arrives home from airport. He’s walking up the stairs to greet Dad. His first words…

Eric: Hi Dad.
Dad: Hi Eric.
Eric: Mom and Rachel think my haircut is awful.
Dad: I think it looks great Eric. Tell them to worry about their own hair.

Son and Father hug.

Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
“Son, I’m proud of you, can you sit for a while”
He shook his head and said with a smile
“What I’d really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please”

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home son
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then, Dad

Notes:

37 thoughts on “Cat’s Left the Cradle 2”

  3. Check off one in the win column for dad. Did he get the job?

    I was taught and still believe that one of a dad’s jobs is to provide opprtunities to his children that he never had. I took great pleasure in making introductions for my daughters, but stressed to them (and to the folks I introduced them to) that my job was to make the introduction, but it was their responsibility to close the deal. More often than not, they did well. Luckily for my sanity, when it came to such matters, I was the “go to guy” in the house and they listened….even when it came to what they were going to wear, which I ended up paying for of course.

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    1. He won’t know for a few weeks. He has some other irons in the fire at various stages. As so true as to the need for them to close the deal. Trying to impress upon him that the preparation effort shows in interview process and creates separation from other candidates — is it registering, some drips yes.

      Smiling as to “ended up paying for” – that’s all part of the unwritten contract.

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  4. Like father, like son…I kind of think like David, like Eric – and they’re both marvelously distinct people – one in his 20’s when he has all the permission in the world to make mistakes as an adult, because that’s what the 20’s are for…the other a skosh older, who clearly had the chance to learn many lessons in his day in order to become the phenomenal man that he is. Just sayin’….

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  6. ‘i think it looks great. tell them to worry about their own hair,’ said dad to son. earlier said by son to dad when suggested he get a haircut. the circle of life.

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  7. Love this, David…and so much of it is familiar to me, except that the narrative was between “Mom and Cody.” And, believe me, it’s a lot worse when Mom has her hand on the hammer. Your children are so very lucky to have you in their lives…as are we all, really. 🙂

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  8. Yes, when does he hear back regarding the Internship? Yesterday, my daughter cut her boyfriends hair – he is moving along in the interviewing process for a San Francisco headquartered company. He completed phase 2 of the interview process which was a “Seven Video” series by dinnertime.. If they are interested he will fly to San Francisco for a group interview. My daughter is waiting to hear back, also. Life is a work in progress…

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  12. There are so many favorite lines above… help me- my head won’t stop nodding.
    But this quote made me breathe backwards and laugh out loud:
    “Eric: Dad, come on. I don’t have time. I’m not going to do it. I’m done talking about this. (I know what is coming next. Psycho. Man Possessed. Head spinning on shoulders. Spittle flying. Needs exorcism.)”
    I was never certifiably psycho- well- maybe a little- but my son found his voice when my hormones found me. Sprinkle a little coffee on that mess, and my head is spinning. My kids say “someone unleashed the kraken” and my husband says “hide the guns.” Wait until Eric texts you a picture of the design for his tattoo 🙂
    Brace yourself friend.

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  13. Family stories are my favorites… I just had a similar experience with junior. What’s up with these kids and hair! I hope Eric gets the job!

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  14. I’ve always felt melancholy after hearing Cats In the Cradle; it emphasizes the difficulty of being a parent–often damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Eric’s respect for you and your advice is evident in this touching piece, bad haircut or not.

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  15. Your hard-ass side always shocks me, and I start siding with the kids (Damn straight, buddy! Don’t *touch* your hair!). But then I wonder if it’s just strategy, a tone you’ve learned works better. And then there’s this great kid with a haircut. I’m so confused!

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