Thread: Spare the Rod. [ Father ... Yaga ]

In serving his parents, a filial son reveres them in daily life he makes them happy while he nourishes them he takes anxious care of them in sickness he shows great sorrow over... In the front of the auditorium, a young girl shone somewhat proudly, showing off a little bit as she explained her theory to the rest of the room, her expression not naughty nor prideful, but her eyes shone just slightly under the bright classroom lights. When she finished speaking, the woman sat back down and folded one leg over the other, smirking just slightly when a few students around her clapped at her explanation. Odessa was not that woman. Ms. Lakes, all 5'3 of her, sat rather uncomfortably next the back of the auditorium and to the left, doing her best to hide down behind the person in front of her despite the fact that she was on a higher level of the seats. The Ethics 101 class always took place in the presentation hall due to the nature of the thing constant talking. The room carried the young woman's voice to the back of the hall where it simply passed over Odessa's head. She wasn't stupid, no. Odessa could tell you about animal evolution for hours, or perhaps poetry if you asked her. But when it came to ethics, Odessa couldn't find purchase beneath her fingers, especially not in their current lesson. The girl up front could have rambled on for hours about Confucian's Classic of Filial Piety, touching over roles and family ethics, respect for one's father, virtues and cultural significance, and even if she spelled everything out, Odessa would likely still be confused. Her pretty little A average had dropped to that of a B- and Odessa, who prided herself on impeccable grades, wanted to pull her hair out. Class wore on. Odessa pouted to herself in the back. She took notes and kept up as best as she could, but little drawings began to bloom up along the side of her notepaper, the young lady tuning out completely as it grew worse. She hated group discussion, and she hated the girl up front who apparently knew everything about everything. The professor waved his hand off and told everyone to have a good evening. It was four in the early evening now, but in the sweetness of late summer, the day was still relatively young. For Odessa, that meant time to go home and read about things that were actually important to her, not how she should respect her Daddy. However, the professor seemed to be firmly rooted in his desk, even as everyone else started fanning out of the room and heading for the doors. She frowned, biting down on the inside of her cheek. Perhaps this would be a teaching moment. Ms. Lakes kept herself occupied, or at least presented herself that way, continuing to doodle in her notebook. Finally, all the other students seemed to have vanished, leaving just young Odessa in the presentation hall with her professor. Like a lamb walking to the slaughter, she made her move. Odessa rose, taking her notebook with her as she went slowly down the steps, almost silently, taking her time as she drew near his desk. She'd never talked to her professor in private before. Certainly they had heard each others' voices, mostly his, but she doubted he knew her name. No matter, it wasn't his job to do such a thing. Finally, she reached his desk, standing before it timidly. Odessa was not unlike a lost child. Professor?