~Chapter 10: The Father Is A God In The Son’s Eyes~

       Horatio grinned when he saw his son snatch the beautiful Cristina from Enzo.  Memories of all the beautiful women he’s charmed rushed in on him like a flood.  Ah, those were the days when life was worth living, he thought and gave a long sigh.  His son was turning into him each day.  He was a dashing debonair who could whisk just about any woman off her feet.   Soon, he may start sleeping with women.  Oh, what a wonderful thought! But alas, he may never experience the pleasure a woman has to offer once he’s in that blessed monastery.  I pray to God that he sleeps with that young lady before he is sent to that religious prison.

       Gav looked back to meet his father’s mischievous eyes.  He was so grateful to have such a marvelous father who supports him in his latest conquest.  He grinned at his father as he remembered the days his father brought him to parties full of both ugly and beautiful women.  There, his father taught him how to woo women.  The first woman he wooed was the widowed Countess of Castile.  She was a gullible old hag who thought that Gav had a crush on her.  He hated the old bat, but she had a box full of scrumptious Belgian chocolates by her side.  He tugged on his father’s coat and said,

       “Father, I want those chocolates,” his father turned toward the direction his son was pointing at and grinned.

       “Well, have you tried asking the old lady there for some chocolates?”  Little Gav bit his lower lip and shook his head.

        “Why don’t you go to her? I’m sure that she’ll give you the whole box if you make her believe that you find her beautiful.”

        “But I don’t find her beautiful, father.  I think that she’s an ugly old hag.”  His father laughed at the remark, and ruffled Gav’s hair.

       “Of course she’s ugly, Gav!  But if you want something from a lady like her, you’ll have to make her believe that you like her.  People only give you the things you want if you know how to make them feel good about themselves, and that old lady there needs a lot of compliments before she surrenders that box of chocolates.”

       “Wouldn’t that be lying to her?  I don’t think that she’s anywhere near beautiful.” Gav said looking up to his father.

       “Well, yes, but you’re only lying to her to make her feel good about herself.  There’s nothing wrong with that since the wrong thing you said was made right by the goodness she feels inside.  Not only does she feel good, but she’ll also give you the whole box of chocolates.  In the end, both of you benefit from the lie you told her, don’t you agree Gavrilo?”  Gav smiled innocently at his father.

       “Right, father!  I never knew that something bad could turn out right.  Mother always said that a bad thing will always be bad, but she’s wrong, right?”  His father grinned and answered,

       “You’re mother’s mostly right, but in this case she’s wrong.”  Gav shot a confused look at his father.

       “I don’t understand.  When will I know that a bad thing is actually good?”

       “You’ll never know until you try.  It takes a lot of experience to know when something bad is actually good.”

       “So, I’ll have to be as old as you to be able to tell the difference, right?’

       “No, you don’t need to wait that long.  You’ll just have to watch and learn from me.  It’s as simple as that, Gavrilo.”

       “Really, father?  I’m so glad to have a father like you!”  He hugged his father tightly.  His father smiled lovingly at him.

       “Well, what are you waiting for my handsome son?  Go, and get your box of chocolates!” Those words became Gav’s driving force to approach the old bat, and in the end he managed to snag the whole box of chocolates.  The old lady introduced him to the other old women who began to drool over him.  His ego boosted, and he longed for more attention.  From that day on, his father became his idol, and every word his father spoke was the gospel for him.