You had to be there

It was a dark and stormy night. Well Fuck you! It was! You can’t see the Furies approach on a dark and stormy night. On a dark and stormy night you mostly listen and feel. If you feel and hear the wind increasing dramatically you edge closer to the tornado shelter door. A flash of lighting-dark and stormy night interrupted-I see there's a monster tornado heading our way.

“Quick! Quick! Everyone! In here!”, I scream while gesturing wildly toward the tornado shelter’s door.

Kids. They have periods when they just ignore their parents. Apparently, this was one of Josh’s ‘Fuck you, Dad!’ moments – he ran in exactly the opposite direction of where I beckoned.

“No, Josh! Come here!”

Another flash of lighting: I see Josh is running toward his grandfather, my father. My first thought is “Really. He’s picking him over me?” Then my conscience kicks in and I realize I have to help them.

But how? Dad’s dementia-nality (He tells us he time travels to higher dimensions. Uh Huh) will make him believe that there’s no danger. He’ll resist any aid Josh offers, “Fuck off! You alien MotherFucker!” But Josh, small though he is (he also doesn’t know MotherFucker is pejorative), will still attempt to pull, push, drag, or carry (unlikely, Josh is only 4) grandpa to safety.

Shit! My metaphysical dawdling has cost precious time. It's unlikely I’m going to be able to run to them and drag them to safety. It’s save myself or risk sacrificing all three of us.

I wouldn’t be in this predicament if Josh wasn’t such a disobedient little fucker! Great timing, Josh!

Remember that morality puzzler: You’re the switch-person who can divert the oncoming train to kill only one person instead the five persons in its immediate path. Five people die unless you act to direct the train to kill only one. Could be a tough decision. It’s made easier if you imagine yourself as the one. Well, in a nutshell, that was my dilemma.

Can you imagine how incredibly sad it is to have to go to your father’s and your son’s funerals on the same day?