The Emeritus

Phi Alpha Kappa : II

 

 

 

 

 

' Nobody really knows anything,' Paul replied, ' but they all make it like they do.'

 

Peter figured that it was a harsh thing to say. But the fact is, everyone he had spoken to always referred him back to himself to find out what he wants. It was like they themselves were denying any involvement in him. It produced a curious sensation in him, as if he was being separated from the rest.

 

The two boys kept at it the entire afternoon, not realizing that they were mixing two powerful aspects of their personality without a proper perspective about it.

 

On the one hand was the sensation of the Emeritus, that in us that is capable of knowing all if it put its mind to it. Then there was the person the boy is, relating to father, mother and the world and being a member of a culture that relates to everyone as an equal.

 

As a son, Peter was growing in a system in which he is identified as not knowing and is subject to the vagaries of a society that he relates to in some way.

 

There was a wooden carving of a windmill on Paul's table that caught Peter's eye. ' Did you do this?" he asked Paul.

 

Paul nodded. For some reason, Peter found that to be a matter of great interest. He couldn't say why, but it produced him the same sensation of quiet satisfaction he felt when buying the pendant for Maria.

 

The answer to what he wanted to do for the future lay right there, but he couldn't be sure what it was.