Day 18: A Father's Rights

Rejection is something every writer will face. So we had to write about that. We got bonus points if we didn't write about a writer getting rejected or our own experiences, neither of which would have been my natural inclination anyway. I find writing about myself pretty boring. So I decided to write about how certain types of people react to rejection, especially when it applies to something they think they are owed. Stylistically this is clearly influenced by Martin Crimp (or if you prefer a shameless rip-off of his style). But, ya know, written in a couple of hours and not as good.

                                                             A Father’s Rights

                                                            By Jeremy Linnell

A: I’m sorry, but no.

B: I don’t accept that.

A: I’m sorry?

B: You heard.

C: I don’t think you can do that.

B: And you’re the boss of these things now?

A: It makes no sense. You can’t reject a rejection.

B: BULLSHIT. Why do you get to control this?

C: It’s her decision.

B: Feels like a joint one to me. It affects us both.

C: Just…take it on the chin and walk away. Like a big boy, yeah?

B: Let me tell you a fucking story, yeah. Man walks in to a school. Asks to see his son “I’m sorry he’s in class right now” says the prissy little cunt behind the desk. He pushes past her.

D: Rightly so.

B: Fucking thank you. It’s his son.

D: His flesh and blood.

A: But he’s in school.

C: The care of the state.

B: Father’s rights though.

A: Why can’t he see him at home.

C: Yeah if his father’s rights are so important why is he barging in on his son’s development.

A: Selfish.

B: HE’S NOT FUCKING SELFISH

D: He’s passionate.

B: Fucking thank you. It’s his son.

D: His flesh and blood.

B: Fruit of his loins. So he HAS to see him. It’s his right.

D: A father’s right.

B: Father’s rights.

A: So where’s the mother?

B: You fucking what?

A: You know. The other loins his son sprung from?

B: She’s fucked off.

D: Probably down the bingo

B: Or watching Jeremy Kyle.

C: Or playing with herself.

A: So you’re saying she’s an inattentive mother?

B: Inattentive. That’s it. That’s right. Exactly what I’m saying.

D: Exactly what he’s saying.

A: I don’t know if I believe you.

C: Me neither. It’s a biased opinion.

B: Biased through love of his son. He just wants to help his son. It’s his right. A father’s right.

D: A father’s right.  

B: So he storms in to his son’s classroom.

D: “What are you doing here?”

B: “I’ve come to get my son. It’s my right. A father’s right”

D: “I’m sorry you’ll have to come back later, this is school hours. How did you get past the front desk”.

B: Nosy little cunt isn’t she.

D: Probably reminds him of his wife.

B: Which explains why his son is cowering behind her legs.

 A: What are the other children doing during all this?

C: Yeah. Are they just sitting there?

A: Are they scared?

C: Excited for this disruption from 1x2 is 2

A: 2x2 is 4

D: 3x2 is 6

C: 4x2 is 8

A: 5x2 is 10

B: SHUT UP. The kids are fine.

A: What with a big scary man bursting in like that?

C: That doesn’t sound right.

B: Well they are. They probably know he’s just there for his son.

D: “Could you please leave, sir. You can collect him at the end of the day.”

C: Well that’s torn it.

B: Now you’re getting it. It’s frustrating for anyone. Being told no all the time.

D: No one likes to be told no.

B: Especially when it comes to their son.

A: That I can understand. You should have said that from the start.

B: So he does what any father would do. He hits her.

D: This is when the kiddies start screaming.

A: You’ve lost me again. Why did he hit her?

C: Doesn’t seem right.

B: She was stopping him seeing his son, he’s on a schedule and he doesn’t have time for this shit.

D: How did she fall?

B: Backwards

A: On to his son!?

B: No you stupid bitch not on to his son. His son’s not an idiot. He’s HIS son. Good instincts. Smart boy. He gets out the way when the teacher falls.

D: Bet she cracks her head on the desk.

B: She does. She does! Serves her right. Nosy cunt.  

A: Probably has brain damage. Poor woman.

C: Will never teach again.

B: The kids would be better off with a male teacher anyway, too much female presence in schools.

D: Usually only authority figures isn’t it. Like headteachers.

B: Always pushed in to being the scary figure of discipline. It’s not fair. What about their rights. Father’s rights!

D: Father’s rights!

B: So he grabs his little boy, scoops him up in daddy’s big strong arms. “Come on son, it’s time to go”

A: Where is he taking him?

C: This really doesn’t sound right.

B: We’re getting to that. So he runs past the desk again.

D: “Sir you can’t remove him during school hours.”

B: He puts his son down. “Be a good boy, close your eyes, put your fingers in your ears, like you do at home”. Walks back to the desk.

D: I’m excited. My nipples are actually tingling.

B: And he picks up that bitches phone and smashes it in her face. Knocks her out cold. Spits on her twitching body. “Cunt”.

A: This is just masturbatory.

C: Sick male power fantasy.

B: No, you’re what’s wrong with society. A man exercising his rights, his father’s rights

D:  Father’s rights.

B: , Is considered sick and masturbatory. It’s about what’s best for his son. So goes back to his little boy, what a little trooper, still doing what daddy told him.

D: Eyes closed, fingers in his ears?

B: Protected from the world. Daddy picks him up and carries him outside. “Keep like that son, there’s a good boy”

D: What, fingers in his ears?

B: Yeah.

D: Why?

B: So he can’t hear the screaming. You know, when he puts him in the car. He’s got him a new booster seat, Thomas the Tank Engine, his favourite.

D: He’s a good dad. Knows what his son loves.

A: About that screaming.

C: That really doesn’t make sense.

B: Oh didn’t I mention? Sorry, I got a bit caught up in the story. His wife’s in the trunk. Tried to stop him seeing his son. Deny him his rights. His father’s rights!

D: Father’s rights!

A: So he exerts his by taking away hers

C: She has rights too.

B: Not at the expensive of his. She rejected him. She has to pay. It’s his son! No father should be kept from his boy.

D: Don’t you guys have a heart?

B: So he straps his boy in all safe, makes sure he’s comfortable.

D: In his Thomas The Tank Engine booster seat. He’s such a good dad.

B: One of the best.

A: So what’s his plan. Son in the seat and wife in the trunk.

C: If he’s such a good father surely he’s got a plan.

B: Of course he does. Down to the lake. Family outing.

D: That’s nice.

B: He’s not a selfish man. He’d never deny the mother time with her son either. They’re all going together. Down to the lake and in to the water. A family again.

D: Which is all he really wanted.

A: I’m still unconvinced.

C: That really doesn’t sound right.

B: Well it was the right thing to do. Only way to keep his rights. His father’s rights.

D: His father’s rights.

A: Hmmmmm. Still sounds like your typical masculine dominated western power/revenge fantasy.

C: I’m inclined to agree.

B: That just means you guys don’t get it.

A: What’s to get.

B: Men have always got the shit end of the stick. You have all the power.

A: Come again?

B: You tell me no and I just have to take it? That’s not right. That’s denying my rights. Which is why, getting back to my original point, I reject your rejection.

END