Nils observed his son was following the same pattern he’d always exhibited when coming home. Axel had pushed past him when he’d opened the front door for his son, and settled on a couch in the living room without a word, waiting for his father to join him.
While Axel did this every year, the callousness of his actions seemed to deepen with each passing year. His son arrived in a greater drunken stupor, and his agitation when he flippantly gestured with a wave of his hand for his father to start talking was more apparent than ever. In a way, it made Nils reflect back fondly on all of Axel’s prior visits, when it oddly felt like Axel at least tolerated returning home.
“We’ll need more this year,” Nils said humbly, earning a sharp glare from his son. Nils couldn’t tell if it was because he dared to ask, or if it was because the amount of neediness in his voice wasn’t to his son’s liking.
“The medication your mother needs to take,” he quickly elaborated, “it, well…my unemployment checks aren’t enough to cover them.”
“Why don’t you get your job back at the factory?” Axel snarled as he rubbed furiously at his temple.
“The plant closed down,” Nils reminded his son. He had a sneaking suspicion Axel knew this, just like he had a sneaking suspicion that Axel had been the one who acquired the plant seven years ago just to lay everyone in it off and shutter its doors.
“So go find another plant or warehouse to work in.”
“I’ve tried,” Nils cried, desperately. “They all think I’m too old to do the work.”
Axel snorted. “Seems like it’s a bad idea trying to always rely on a company to give you steady work instead of creating one yourself.”
Nils clamped his mouth shut. There it was. Axel’s annual lesson he was teaching his father. He appreciated that his son had at least gotten to it quickly this year, faster than any year prior. Perhaps it was a sign that Axel was finally getting tired of delivering his annual tutelage of what happened when you didn’t believe in him. Perhaps it was a sign Axel was finally ready to forgive him and move on.
Nils hoped so.
“How much more did you need?” Axel barked. Nils gave an amount, and Axel quickly stated he would only be granting him half. Nils feigned like this would create a hardship, but this was one of Axel’s lessons that he’d learned: Nils had been asking for over double and sometimes triple what he really needed, knowing Axel would never give him the full amount.
“You’re not staying?” Nils asked when Axel rose unsteadily from the couch and began to stagger for the door. He glanced out the window to see his son’s cab was still idly in front of his yard.
“I’ve got an amazing room at a five star hotel waiting for me. Why would I stay here?” His son didn’t react to the stifled sob that came from the kitchen.
“Please,” Nils said, grabbing his son’s shoulder to stop him from leaving. Axel wrenched himself free of Nils’ grasp, then turned on him, the fury in his eyes accentuated by how bloodshot they were.
“I’ve amended your allowance,” Axel snarled. “You’ll now only receive a quarter of what you’ve asked for this year.”
“Please,” Nils persisted. “If you want to punish me, fine, but don’t punish your mother. Please. Her health is failing. Bring our granddaughter here, so that at least your mother can see her. Just once.”
Axel opened the front door, then turned to face his father one last time.
“I told you, promised you, that you both would never see your grandchild as long as you were alive. She’ll never know who you are. Do you not get how this arrangement works? I will never grant you even the smallest of victories.”
And with that, he shut the door behind him, and his visit was over.