At Odds

Bobby and Joe had lived side by side for as long as either of them could remember. They were both typical kids in the beginning, mischievous little critters who loved their friends, their family, and their country. They went to school every day, feigned interest in the subjects that bored even the most astute student, and did what was necessary to get by. The only time when either child shone was when they played, for play they did, fast and hard. Every day there was a squabble of one sort or another between the two; the other kids expected it and stayed out of the way. In fact, most of the other kids had stopped hanging out with Bobby and Joe, their rough-play enough as to eventually hurt someone. And so it became that the other kids stayed in their own houses and played, never venturing out of their yards, although occasionally Bill, the boldest of the bunch, sometimes considered too brazen by his peers, and frankly, the youngest, would find his way to the playground to referee the present contest which Bobby and Joe had gotten into. Obviously, either Bobby or Joe would then turn their congenital competitiveness on poor Bill, leaving the modest youngster to fend for himself.

Bobby came from a strong family. From generation to generation, his family had been prominent in the community, which is why Bobby’s pride was almost unbearable and he could not be one to lose. He did not mind the consequences of his actions as long as the results of his conduct resulted in him winning. On the occasion that Joe beat him, Bobby could not face anyone for days, only hiding in his room as to avoid the humiliation of is failure. Bobby’s family understood and even encouraged this behaviour, as they had lived the same way throughout their own lives and knew the same shame. A sad and pathetic trait to lay on a child, but it was one that had been passed on since time on end. What is more, it was not only Bobby’s family that had felt this, but all who came from the same line was prone to the gene and this flaw left a mark on the lineage of Bobby’s genealogy. Were it not for the simple fact that old traditions were passing and new ones entering, Bobby might have been more violent than he was. And so, Bobby continued to try to humiliate his playmate every day, in hope of sparing himself from the same. The banter between the two was never mean, never condescending, never hateful, at least not on the surface.

Joe’s family was almost precisely and truthfully the exact opposite from Bobby’s. His whole existence was based on the morals that his family thrust upon him ever since he was able to understand. These morals, while not flawless, were the foundation of his family’s strength, something that was lacking in most families in these times. The implication is not that Bobby’s family’s morals were less in any way, or that they were not the basis for his own family’s beliefs, yet Joe’s family’s line was considered deeper and stronger. And so the competition, which unbeknownst to the two boys had been going on for generations, raged on. The struggle within the bond left both boys feeling elated at times and despondent at others. A sure sign that there was no winner in the pointless game each was sure they could win.