Episode Twenty-Eight: Graduation: Scene 11

At least the efreet himself didn’t show up to make things awkward. Not telling him about his father?

I could and could not get behind that. The more I thought about it, the more unfair it seemed, but at the same time, he didn’t need a father like that. Not at all.

Nobody did.

It was sad that I sometimes seemed to be the person with the least crazy father. You know, the daughter of the chaotic trickster god.

I reminded myself Seb and Clara had perfectly sane parents. So did Thruor. I didn’t know about Zaid. They hadn’t talked about their family, which made me wonder if they’d been rejected for being non-binary.

Some parents were pretty cruel about things like that. Actually, some parents were pretty cruel period.

Sometimes I thought the people without them were better off. Or maybe it was the people who’s parents had chosen them who had it best.

You couldn’t choose how your kids would turn out. If I ever had them, I would have to remind myself of that.

If.

I wasn’t sure I wanted them. But Derek’s mother was messed up and his father was, well, even more messed up.

No wonder he was messed up and vulnerable, but I hoped we could get him on a straight path now.

I corralled him after school and we went to the subs place I used to work at. I could bring myself to eat their food again now.

“So…”

“So, we know people want to turn you evil. That’s way more than half the battle with this kind of thing.”

He nodded slowly. “My mother…why did she lie to me?”

I paused, then, “Because your father’s a total jerk and she didn’t think you needed anything of him in your life.”

He frowned, but didn’t look surprised. “Or she was worried I’d turn out like him.”

“You’re already much nicer. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Not that bloodlines don’t matter, but some of the best people I know have fathers you wouldn’t want to invite to the table.”

He laughed. “Fair enough. Then again, I’m not sure I’d invite yours.”

“He’s actually fun at parties.”

“When he’s not…”

“…sliding whoopi cushions under the butt of the most pretentious person there.”

Derek laughed. “Would he actually do something that petty?”

“Yes. Although he’s normally more creative. The point is, though, you don’t have to be like your parents, but you do have to acknowledge what of them is in you.”

He nodded. “And what of my father is in me?”

“I can’t tell you. I’ve already pushed the edges. Your mother asked me not to give you too much information.”

“Still afraid I’ll turn into him.”

I couldn’t answer that. Not yet.

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