Welcome, dear reader!
This story is a State of Dabar rendition of a biblical story you most definitely have knowledge of. Trust me, it’s gonna be quite a ride reading this one. And of course, you’ll know what story it is by the end of this first ep. So let’s not waste time. Here we go!
“Father, can I see you for a moment? There’s something really important I’d like to talk to you about.”
“Of course, son, of course. Come in.”
The door opened up as Leonard followed his father, Johannes, into the grandiose library that the wealthy man of the house often stayed in. It was always a delight to see the tastefully decorated room with rich mahogany bookcases lining the walls from floor to ceiling, and the many books that lined them. This surely was one magnificent space that his father occupied whenever he had to get some work done.
Leonard walked over to the table, and took a seat, watching his father as he took up the papers on his desk and arranged them before placing them at the side of the table and taking a seat. Johannes then looked up from his neatly made arrangements on his table to watch his younger son intently. “Talk to me, Leo,” he said in his ever-gentle voice.
Leonard shut his eyes briefly and took a deep breath. This is harder than I imagined, he briefly thought to himself.
What he had to say, no doubt, was not going to be easy at all for his father. Being a single dad and a real estate mogul, as well as the owner of this magnificent mansion named Hollyland Manor, was no mean feat, following the inexplicable manner in which his wife had left him and their two sons high and dry. He had done a pretty stellar job, however, and raised his sons well. And this was not going to be taken well at all.
But, the time to get it done was now. No chickening out at this stage.
“Father, I’ve been considering some important stuff. And… after much deliberation, I’ve made up my mind. Ummm… Father?”
“Yes, Leo?” Johannes asked, looking quite eager to see what it was his younger son had supposedly made up his mind about.
Leonard inhaled deeply again, then let it out.
“I’d like to have my share of what I’ll inherit from you in the future. I’ve decided I want to leave, and chart my own path elsewhere.”
As expected, Johannes was taken aback by his words. He squinted his eyes, clearly confused by this request. Shaking his head, he looked at him in silence for a few seconds, then asked, “Umm.. why?”
Leonard shrugged his shoulders. “I… I just want my freedom, Father. I mean, no offense or anything, but… I feel so trapped here. I just wanna live on my own now. I wanna be free. That’s it.”
Johannes sat back in his chair. The look on his face was no less than Leonard had expected; an unconvinced expression. The excuse of freedom was certainly nowhere near convincing enough to warrant a decision this drastic.
“Leonard, are you sure about this? Because… I don’t think you’ve properly thought this through. I mean, you have everything you need here. You have everything. And you’re still young, and have so much to learn before you go. Why the rush?”
Leonard sighed. He knew this was going to happen. He had geared himself up for this, though. Whatever was going to be said would not get any permission whatsoever to cause any change in his plans.
“Father, respectfully, I have thought this through, and I’m convinced that it’s what I need to do. I want my share of the inheritance, so I can go my way and live my life the way I deem fit.”
“So what are your plans, exactly, if I could ask?” Johannes queried further, an eyebrow lifted high as he observed his son keenly. He already knew the boy in front of him, and that last phrase about how he wanted to live life hardly sounded like one filled with a lot of wisdom.
Leonard sighed, the agitation becoming apparent in his body language and his facial expression.
And his voice.
“Father, please. I have my plans about what I’ll do once I leave. I know what I’m going to do. And I know I’ll be very happy once I follow that path.”
Johannes shook his head. Those evasive answers were very typical of Leonard. Nothing but solid proof that the young man did not have proper plans, and was most likely planning on being as frivolous as could be.
“Leonard, I don’t think this is a good idea…”
Leonard threw his hands up in the air. “I knew it! I just knew it! I knew you’d be difficult about this.”
“Leonard, I don’t appreciate you talking to me in that tone of voice!” Johannes ordered, his voice rising.
“But I’m not happy! I’ve been under this roof long enough, and I know this is not where I want to remain! I have plans of my own, Father! I know what I want to do with my life.”
Johannes sighed and shook his head. “Leonard, please, let’s be reasonable. You know why I’m doing this. Leo, you know I love you. You and Lenny. I’m only doing what’s best for you both. Please don’t make things tough for me…”
Leonard rose from the chair, his eyes narrowed as he glared at his father. “If you really love me as you say, Father,” he drawled, “you’ll let me go. I don’t think you’ll be happy to have a miserable son walking the halls every freaking day because you blocked his chances of making his life worth living.”
Johannes was pained within his heart as he looked back at his younger son. Such a headstrong human being this young man was. Always determined to have his way. And as childish as it sounded, he truly would turn himself into a perpetual mope. He had done it a few times, and it was nothing short of infuriating.
“Father, I’m going to ask this one more time. Please, give me my share of the inheritance, so I can go my way and make a new life for myself. Please. You deserve better than the high blood pressure you’ll most likely get from the frustration of keeping me here.”
Shaking his head, he mumbled, “Fine. I’ll give you an answer by evening. Gimme some time to think about it.”
Leonard shook his head. “No, Father. I’m not waiting for an answer. I want it now. Like, right now.”
Johannes looked at him incredulously, amazed at how pushy he was acting.
Leonard was nonplussed, however. As far as he was concerned, twisting his father’s arm was the only way to get the needed result. That request for ‘time to think about it’ would amount to more excuses and attempts to coerce him into a change of mind.
And he was not gonna let that happen. He’d get what he wanted.
He nodded. “Yes, Father. It’s that serious. I want the answer now. And I want it to be a yes.”
Johannes rubbed his face. In a low voice, he muttered, “Alright, alright. I’ll let you have it.”
The stern look on Leonard’s face disappeared, a pleased expression replacing it. “Thank you. Thank you very much,” he said simply. “I’ll be expecting the cheque sooner than later.” He turned to leave the library, absolutely satisfied with how that turned out. He knew his father would still attempt to change his mind, but it was not going to work. Freedom was within his reach, and he certainly was not going to let it suddenly slip away.
***
“But what the hell is wrong with that boy?” Lennart raged, appalled at the information his father had just given him. He had passed by the library to inform his father of the progress of work on their farm when he met him looking glum and distressed. And he was not the least bit amused to find out the source of his beloved daddy’s stress.
Johannes shrugged, sighing heavily. “I still haven’t the faintest idea what motivates him, Lenny. It’s amazing. I mean, demanding the share of your inheritance now? I just don’t get it.”
Lennart stood akimbo, hands on his hips as she shook his head. “He never wants to get involved with the work, he constantly wants to do his own thing, always on a frolic of his own… what kind of life is that?”
Seated in his chair, Johannes leaned back, lines of worry appearing on his forehead. “I don’t know, Lenny. He’s your brother. Maybe you can talk to him. Find out what his real motivation is.”
“Oh, I’ll talk to him all right! I’m gonna let him have it. What sort of rubbish is this?” Lennart muttered out loud as he stormed out of the library.
“Lennart, wait!” Johannes called. Seeing his older son too blinded with fury to hear him, he sighed out loud.
This was not going to end well.
***
“Okay, sooo…. assuming it amounts to… 250 million kinans, for example, then I can split the money for the trip. From Agena to Poki… well, there’s the bus for that. But nah, that’s boring. I should be a millionaire by then. Gotta do things big! I’ll go for the Gold Class seat for the local flights. That’s more appropriate for me…”
Leonard was already excited about the ‘new life’ ahead of him, and was busily jotting down his plans on how to use his money. And he wanted to do things big.
He smirked as he debated with himself on what house to get once he touched down.
Then, without warning, his bedroom door flung wide open.
He sat up, alarmed by the sudden and rough opening of his door. As the person behind it entered, however, he scowled.
Of course, it had to be Lennart. Mr. Prim-Proper-and-Perfect. Ugh!
“Leonard, what the hell is going on in that head of yours?” Lennart demanded, clearly uninterested in time-wasting pleasantries. “How can you demand Father gives you your share of the inheritance now? The man isn’t dead and you’re making such stupid demands? Are you serious at all?”
Leonard rolled his eyes and threw his head back, giving off an agitated groan. “Ughhhhhh! I should have known Father would rattle off to Mr. Prim-Proper-and-Perfect about this!”
“Gentleman, watch your tone and choice of words,” Lennart warned him before continuing. “What is it you’re going to do out there? Live your life the way you want? You’re not serious, Leo! You’re lazy, uninterested in doing beneficial things, and enthusiastic about useless frivolities… what the hell makes you think you’re gonna survive out there? Young man, people with mindsets as immature as yours get eaten alive!”
“Whatever, Lennart! Whatever!” Leonard snapped, getting up from his bed to face him. “I don’t care about your thoughts and opinions, alright? This is my life, my decision, and you don’t get to have a say in this. I wanna be by myself, free to do as I please. Free from the constant orders and irritating complaints and commands you and Father always throw my way. I want my freedom! It’s my life, and I deserve to live it as I please! Not as you or Father please!”
Lennart shook his head as he glared down at his brother. “Honestly, Leo, I’ve always known you were selfish, self-centered, and dead to the feelings of those around you. Look at you, whining for freedom when you have the good life before you. A chance to share in your father’s farms. To carry on his legacy. A chance to live for something bigger than yourself. As to why you won’t reason up and grab this opportunity is beyond me.”
“To hell with living for something bigger than myself!” Leonard roared back. “I don’t care about the farms, I don’t care about any legacy, I don’t care about anything here! I am sick to death of you always pressing on me to follow your ways. I don’t wanna go down your path; I want my own path. And whatever path I choose is none of your goddamn business! Just leave me to do as I please!”
Lennart was slightly taken aback by that vicious response. He stared at Leonard, a perturbed look on his face.
The two stared each other in the eye in silence for a couple of seconds.
Then Lennart shook his head, disconcert turning into disgust.
“You know what? Do as you please. Clearly, you’re too far gone to listen to wisdom. So go down your beloved path. Do what you please. Waste your life on senseless, worthless things that have no purpose. Do what makes you feel good. Just remember that when it all comes crashing down, you’ll have to bear the consequences yourself.”
“Just get out of my room, Lennart,” Leonard muttered, totally unmoved by his speech.
The scorn still engraved on his face, Lennart walked out, neglecting to close the door.
“Irritating Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes,” he scoffed to himself as he walked to the door and closed it.
These kinds of misgivings between them were a slightly common occurrence. He couldn’t stand how Lennart lived life by the book, strictly adhering to the rules and orders of Johannes. It sickened him, and the fact that Lennart was so persuaded in what he did irked him the more, which constantly led to them squaring off and exchanging harsh words at each other.
And this was one of the reasons why he was looking forward to leaving. No more Lennart to deal with.
“Yep, not long from now, and that perfect brother of mine will be history,” he said to himself as he returned to his bed. “Man, I can’t wait. Freedom! Total freedom!”
Yep, you can already tell what story this is based on, right? Awesome! Let’s go ahead and see what happens with Leonard as the story unfolds…
