As every child does at least once, the kid will go to their parents and ask them bluntly: “Is it true this is all there is for me in this world?”
Clearly bewildered by the question his parents will stare uncomfortably at each other trying to make the other answer. Finally, one of them will say:
“No, of course not. There are many things waiting for you outside. The world is big and full of surprises. The thing is you’re still too young to know them”.
“Yeah, imagine…” the other will continue, “there are hundreds of countries, cities, lots and lots of people. You will go to school, college, you’ll marry, have kids... As you see, there are much more things for you out there than you can possibly imagine.”
And the kid will nod, turn around, and leave with the dreadful certainty his parents have long ago forgotten the meaning of the question.
February 15th, 2009
Saint Louis, Missouri.
