The Tragedy of Owen Baylor - Part II

Such is the case in real life, as opposed to books and movies, that tramatic events sometimes have not the expected effect, but instead become muted by circumstance and time, until really what one might think to be a life-altering moment, becomes instead a blur, a vague recollection or even repressed.

Some combination of the three is truly the tragedy of poor Owen.

The next five years brought many new desires and experiences for Owen, and along with the developments of such vice that is common to all young men, came a shift in priorities. Amidst the whirl of cars and young girls and alcohol, Owen's commitment to his declaration became less of a priority, at times it was even completely forgotten.

So when his father approached him at his graduation ceremony in the little green pasture outside the hall, and offered Owen a brand new sports car and paid tuition to one of the best institutions, all with only the expectation that Owen would major in a suitable faculty, Owen jumped at the opportunity with only a hint of regret that he may be betraying some past vow.

After all, he thought, he had no intention to follow through with the whole affair. He convinced himself of this, and even took some pride that he was fooling his old man and receiving these luxeries with no intent of repaying them. And so Owen went to school, and partied and drank and had a merry time with his father's money. And he was always sure to keep up the facade that would allow the funds to continue, so he diligently went to class and had passable grades and made his way along to become an engineer, with no real intent to be one. At some point he would break it all off, tell his father the truth, and leave it all. But not yet. For now, he would bide his time and take what he could. He likened himself to a rebel who might bend but wouldn't break.

Such was Owen's delusion.
- posted by Sigurd7/12/2004 11:01:00 PM