Laertes+Diary

Diary Entry #1: June 1, 2000 BC

I had that nightmare again. Today I woke up gasping for breath, with sweat sliding down my aged face. I immediately broke down into tears when I woke up. My life was dreadful and I would trade it for any other! Alas, that is impossible, and nobody else would trade their magnificent life for mine. I walked out of my “house” and looked at my tiny and rotting farm. There were actually flies and bugs circling my potatoes. However, when I stood helplessly staring at my pathetic vegetable crops, I saw a ship on the horizon! I eagerly looked for familiar faces on the ship. I saw a few men wandering around the deck, but then I saw a face on the ship which I didn’t want to see. It was my grandson, Telemachus. My heart sunk down my body, and tears rolled down my face. Now Telemachus had left, just like my son Odysseus. Yes, I am Laertes, father of the great and wise Odysseus! When I calmed down, I started to stroke my beard. Who did I have now? Odysseus is missing, quite possibly even be…Telemachus has left for reasons unknown and my daughter-in-law Penelope is in no position to do anything, with all those wooers. Who do I have now? I am writing this in my room, silently weeping. I do not know when I shall write next.

Diary Entry #2: June 3 2000 BC Loneliness continues to haunt me. It feels as if though my soul is being sucked up, and my time to live is slipping away. It has been two days since I last wrote, and since Telemachus left. The brave, clever boy! Only yesterday did I realize he was searching for my son. It does pain me that I should have gone with him; instead I rot in this ghastly hut. It was a fairly eventful day today. I had a much unexpected visit from Athena. She came as an old man dressed in a brown robe, but I was too clever for her. I immediately saw through her disguise, and asked her why she was here after an early lunch. She told me that the day where my son and I will reunite, fend off some evil men. My face brightened when I found this out, but I eagerly asked her when this glorious day would happen. Unfortunately, she glided out of my hut and into the sunset. I cursed under my breath, but I still do wonder when all will be well. It might happen in a few seconds from now, or I might even be years. In the end, my life will be fulfilled and only then will I welcome death to myself.

Diary Entry #3: June 7 2000 BC Today was the day! Today is a day of peace, harmony and celebration! My son Odysseus has returned, after such a long time! My son is currently in the living room, chatting with Penelope. I will now recall what happened right now. Where should I start? Oh yes, when my son came from the sea, sailing back to Ithaca on a ship. His face was so handsome, and his muscles bulging out. His face shined with warmth and wisdom, and the moment he touched land, he came into my arms, and I wept. This was the glorious day, the magnificent time that Athene said days ago! When we exchanged our happiness, Odysseus demanded to know where my grandson was. I pointed at his house, and I could here forks clinging and the laughter of the wooers. My heart sunk, for I thought that dear Odysseus would faint on the spot if I told him about the wooers. Fortunately, I was spared the terrible job because he told me he already knew. All the warmth from his face was drained out, and he was ready to battle. My dear son handed me a sword, and I knew that it was time to slughter these horrible people. For the sake of the reader, I cannot tell you what happened. The most I will write is that Odysseus, Telemachus and I slew the vermin that infested our house. The rest was bloody, and there was gore. In the end, after we cleaned up the mess of blood and brain, we sang happy melodies, and Penelope, Odysseus, Telemachus, my dear son’s nana and all of the servants threw a party. We drank wine, sung songs and played jolly games. In all the happiness and harmony, I knew that Athene was somewhere in the sky, proud that an old man finally redeemed his honour.

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