What Would Freud Have Said?
The boy’s mother was ill in bed and lying on her side with her eyes shut, while the boy sat beside her with an erection. He didn’t understand the erection or its purpose, but there it was.
He spoke to his mother about numerous things – the sky, sweets, TV, his friends – and his mother replied with tired tones, trying to care but too ill to do so.
When the boy realised he’d outstayed his welcome, he peeled from the bed and went to the mirror on the wall, pulled aside his pyjamas and examined his erection, wondering what the hell it was. He touched and played with it while in the reflection his mother rested, her head out of sight amongst the pillows.
All of a sudden, as if aware of what her son was doing, she sat up, and in one fluid motion the boy pulled up his pyjamas and jumped from the room to go play with his toys, knowing she had seen his inquisitiveness, and feeling very aware of a lack of embarrassment, which he probably should have felt, but didn’t.
By lunchtime it was forgotten.
Very nice. Short and straight to the point. No crass titillation either. Congrats. W.
Very cool.
I absolutely love the way you craft prose. So vivid but without fluff or fill in. I really enjoyed this.
This made me think for a long while about innocence, sexuality, and what the world would be like if we didn’t have anyone forming up our thoughts for us. This short was packed to the seams, bravo.
This reminds me of a short story in Steve Almond’s recent book, God Bless America. The story is called “The Darkness Together”. Check it out sometime, I think you’d enjoy it.
Thanks. I will.
I’ve read this a few days ago.
and it’s really amazing. Good writing skills!
congrats!
One good read!
Agreed, a very good read!
Freud might have said; In zis case, I sink ze mother represents pain, in all it’z nahtural form. Pain in itzelf is a vehry-verhy powerful feelink which zometimez can turn into unzuspected aroushal. I believe the yung man may be prone to sado-masochism. Zet it my diagnoses.
P.S. Great story by the way, jut felt it need some cheer me up touch
Check out my Gallery Page. I’ve got a photo there titled “Freud”. See if you can guess which one it is before hovering over it to see the title.
the to bone! congratulation. very nice!
Cool. Perhaps Freud would say: “Ha! Oedipus!”