Argh

Argh. You know that feeling? One of betrayal, worthlessness, and self-pity. That is what I am feeling at this moment; a horrid realization that everything I have been working for has been orchestrated and pre-determined by a higher power. Today, I learned a devastating secret, related to the search of my father: All my friends are not real.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t have imaginary friends or anything like that. Much, much worse. Some of my friends, like Mentor, my aunt, and a seamen who gave me advice, were all the same person: Athena. Athena is a great goddess and all, but it was a sneaky and deceitful thing to do. She went behind my back, used other people’s bodies, people that had earned my trust, and manipulated me to do her bidding (which just happened to be my bidding, as well). As I’m sure you, my enormous reader count, are hoping to find out today, is how did I learn of Athena’s trickery? Did I torture her? Use cunning to force it out of her? No, the answer is simple. She told me. After I had overcome terrible hardships in the process of reaching my father, she had let it slip, as a no-brainer. Why don’t I walk you through a small portion of the path of distrust I have walked on?

First, while still in Ithaca, I was minding my own business, when my aunt approaches me. Little did I know, this being was not my aunt. She persuaded me that my father was alive, and that I need to find him. This advice, I admit, had helped me. What had not helped me, however, was the trickery that came with being taken advantage of. It was just plain not fair.

I had gone on a voyage, with a great crew, to find my long-lost father. I settled, briefly, on a small island. I soon learned that the island’s king, King Nestor, was an extremely wealthy man, the equivalent of a god. A fear had grown inside of me, a fear to approach the king. It was my friend, Mentor, a small girl with a big heart. She showed me that I do not need to be afraid, for I have the power to find the right words. But it was all a lie. This small girl was actually a goddess, playing me like a deck of cards. Just like everything else on this journey.

My fellow citizens of Ithaca and Mount Olympus, and whoever else may have stumbled upon this blog, think to yourself: Is this fair? Do I deserve to be tricked cheated, and just plain lied to? The answer my friends, is no. The answer is always no.

Power of the Gods

Over years since my father has been away at war, all that both me and my mother, Penelope, can thing about is what is actual happening to him, why all of this is happening to us, and how all of this came to be and what is to come out of it. So after years and years, days and nights, we now believe that all that is going on it the will of the gods and the both our and my father’s futures rely on the gods’ decisions and choices. This angers me to the extent where I cannot even function. This is the same case for my mother, even though she does not show it around me, but it is tearing our family apart! To the gods this is only a game, something that is taken advantage of for the “greater good” of the gods. Our family may just be a mere particle compared to the rest of their world, but it is a very important one to us. Family shouldn’t be taken as a game to anyone! Especially to those whose loved ones may even be gone forever. I cannot stand the power of the gods, the little respect they have for both one and other and for all of us, their servants. To the gods, as long as we sacrifice to them and pay them respect, they will help us through life and give us what we want. Both my mother and I have been doing this before and ever since my father left for Troy and the war is nearly years over now and I have not received anything. I have one wish, one request, one need, and that is to have my father back into this family with my mother so that our family is no longer split. If the gods cannot accomplish the one hope the both me and my mother have, then the gods have no power or honor for the years that our family has spent giving to them, and the many years that my father spent in Troy fighting for his life to honor the gods and more importantly our family. The gods should respect all that my father has gone through of them and at least give us the courtesy to see him one last time. The gods should have no power if they don’t know how to use it to the advantage of all who need it most. And right now, we are the ones who need it, and as far as I know the gods are doing nothing to help his journey back to Ithaca. I know that in the past my father has become enemies with Poseidon but that is no reason for keeping him from coming back home to his family that has been waiting for him for many years. But as I said in the beginning, it is all in the gods’ hands because they have the power. Even if I do not believe they are using it in the right ways, they still have the power to do whatever feels right.

Nestor

The following takes place in real time; only seconds after the actions have been performed. Because of this, all verbs will be in past tense.

After I began my search for my dear father, Odysseus, I stumbled on a small island. I could see their leader, whom I later learned is named Nestor. He was royalty beyond belief, with more jewels and gems on his crown than I even knew existed. As you can imagine, as a newcomer, I was somewhat frightened to approach His Royal Majesty. I told Mentor, by best friend at the time, of my troubles, but he gave me some helpful words of advice:

"...some of the words you'll find within yourself, the rest some power will inspire you to say. You least of all - I know - were born and reared without the gods' good will." It's crazy the things he says sometimes. It's like he's some kind of divine being!

So I mount up all my courage, and I stepped up to the glorious king. And believe it or not, this man was a gentleman. He bathed me (well, not personally), clothed me (once again), and gave me the most glorious feast my eyes had ever had the privilege to enjoy. Later on in the night, he told me many stories, some featuring more imagination than others. Then, he began his story of the Trojan War, in which my father was the star warrior. But Nestor was clueless of my relationship to the Great Odysseus! (a.k.a. Dad). He tells a story of bravery, of sacrifice, and of courage, and it was all about my father. By the end, I swear, more water was coming out of my eyes than all the water in the Adriatic Sea! All in all, it was a fantastic night, and I am glad Mr. Nestor was able to give me so much hospitality.
The next morning, I had awoken without of memory from the night before. Luckily, I always keep careful notes of my travels. I was able to regain my knowledge of the previous nights events. It was at that moment when I saw a small note, in my handwriting, and the bottom of the page: “Dad = Dead”. There is no mistaking what that is, a preface for a funeral in his honor. But I mustn’t give up hope, no I shall not. On the good word of a close friend, my father is still alive, fighting for return to his home, my home.

I have decided that I need to stop stalling, and find m¥ father. It is possible he is currently in a state of grave danger, and I do not want to waste a minute. If my tardiness is the cause of his death, then I have no reason to live. I will leave today, with Nestor’s son, (a great guy, by the way), and we will set sail. Those suitors will never know what hit them, but I will. It will be my father’s angry and triumphant fists.

Z Money

I made a speech today. Not just a little speech, though. There was over 500 people hearing what I had to say, and I wasn’t exactly complementing them. I was a little nervous; it was the first time I had ever attempted speaking in front of such a large crowd (the entire population of my home town, Ithaca). However, my anxiousness was not large enough to outweigh the necessity of speaking directly to the group of men who we call “the Suitors”. These men are incredibly disrespectful and greedy, and are all looking for a shot with my mother. As a gentleman, raised by a lady, these men should know that they’re inexplicable behavior will land them no place in my mother’s heart. During my father’s supposed death (or rather, his long absence from home), these suitors found it acceptable to move into my house. Yes, they sleep in my father’s bed, wear his clothes, and eat our food, and they expect my mother to fall in love with them. What does this tell you about the average intelligence of an Ithacan man?

After a revelation, I believe that my father is still alive, fighting battles to return home to my mother and I. And so, with the integrity and pity I have remaining for the suitors (which I must say, is rapidly decreasing), I gave them a warning. I showed them, or tried to show them, their behavior from my perspective, and my father’s perspective. If my father returns, the suitors’ heads will be separated from their bodies faster than they can escape our house. Out of the goodness of my heart, I gave them one last chance to vacate my house (okay, I’m being modest, it’s a palace), before my father permanently removes them from this life.

The suitors, unbelievably, were not able to see my outlook, and even went to the point of accusing my grieving mother of deception. My mother was being harassed by the suitors, and used any means necessary to avoid unfaithful marriage. Anyway, there was one suitor who was so disrespectful, so I destroyed him, with my lyrics. We got into a major rap battle, and everyone who knows me knows I am the greatest freestylist in Itaca. My rapper name is “The TeleTubby” (because I have recently added a few pounds), and my signature line is “Z Money”. Don’t ask why, I’m not exactly sure why. The suitor's name is (or was, because I destroyed him) Antinous. After our little musical debate, no suitor would touch me. As I blatantly stated in my rebuttal, "these suitors think they boss, but soon they'll be making the sign of the cross." While writing this, I have decided that it is essential that I find my father. Not only has his absence affected me and my mother, he may be in a helpless situation that only I can relieve him of. Whether he is captive on a pirate ship, or sinking in wet sand, I shall vanquish his foes. "Because I'm Odysseus' son G, and I'm gonna make them run yee."

I have to keep this a secret from the suitors, because they fear my father's return. If even one suitors knows my plan, I may be the victim of attempted murder, or worse, murder. Right now, "they think they have me beat, but I am planning their defeat".

ZMoney out

Hi, I'm Telemachus!

My name is Telemahcus! I’m new to blogging, so I will start by telling you a little bit about my crazy family and myself. My childhood was not the ideal start for any child because when I was very young my father, the great Odysseus, left our family to go fight in the Trojan War. The war lasted for years, and my worst fear was that I would never see my father again. So I waited and dreamed of the day I would see him walk through our palace doors gleaming with victory and shining with the many gold and silver he would obtain along the way. But this dream is turning into a nightmare, I have not seen my father since he left for Troy and many say that he is indeed dead. However I do not believe this is true. I know he is alive and I can feel him wherever I go. Whenever I hear some say he’s dead or he is never coming back, this gives me every more motivation and hope that I will see him again. But that’s enough about my father for now; I live in a small village called Ithaca. I have lived in Ithaca for all my life! I live along with my mother Penelope. My mother is a beautiful woman and I can tell that my father leaving has affected her as well. Just as I do, my mother stays up weeping all morning and all night waiting for the day her great and noble husband, Odysseus, will come back into her life so that we may have a family once again. Since my father left for Troy, my mother has been taking care of me, along with our maids and servants. The cooking, the cleaning, the washing, everything! She does everything in her power to keep what’s left of our family together. However my mother’s primary goal is to keep the both of us safe, but it seems like the entire world is working against us. Everywhere we turn there is something going on that puts us one step back and gives us one more thing to worry about.
Ever since the war ended, my father has not returned, so many suitors from everywhere have come to my house trying to marry my mother. I am very proud that my mother holds them off because this also shows her hope and more importantly her faithfulness to her husband. The suitors have become a main problem for me because day and night I have to put up with them fighting over who would end up marring my mother, but what they do not know is that my mother has a plan. Ever since the suitors started coming to our door, she told them that she was making a garment and that when she was finished knitting that garment she would tell them who she would marry. However, every night when she would finish making the garment, she would unwrap it and start over. This plan has been working so far, but I don’t know how long it’s going to take until the suitors catch on.