Wandering Firebender

Thirty Five: Hard Work

Elio came home one day in an irritated mood. He entered into the house and went straight to his room, saying nothing to his sister and ignoring his mother when she greeted him. She started to get up, quickly ready to reprimand her son for his behavior.

However, his father stopped her and went to Elio's room himself.

"Son?" Sol opened up the door and stepped inside. "You know it's rude not to respond when someone's speaking to you. Especially your mother." He said with some slight humor as he closed the door behind him.

"Sorry. I just don't want to talk right now." Elio sighed irritably, twirling around a small black switchblade with a gold hilt; a collector's item. His father sat down next to him.

"Something happen today? You were supposed to start working today, right?"

"Yeah, that's what sucked today." Elio grumbled. His father's eyebrows furrowed a bit and he tilted his head.

"Was it the work itself or something else?" He asked, sensing that something was off.

"...some kids from school saw me working at the food stand. They started making fun of me, calling us poor." Elio finally admitted. Sol hummed and nodded in understanding.

"Ahh, now I see. And how did that make you feel, son?"

"Embarrassed! I don't wanna go back there!" Elio exclaimed, ruffling his hair back, "It's stupid anyways. Why do I need to have a job? We don't need the money." He asked.

"No we don't," Sol acknowledged. He put a hand on his son's back. "Son... I've worked very hard to build this life for us. I'd say we're pretty well off here in the Fire Nation inner capitol. Wouldn't you agree?" He asked.

"Yes." Elio nodded.

"To be well off in life, you're gonna have to work for it, Elio. One day you're going to be a man with your own family that you'll have to provide for. It may not be the funnest or most popular thing to do, but knowing responsibility and hard work is an honorable thing...

"Think about it this way. Say I weren't around, and you had to provide. Say the same circumstances were true of those kids who made fun of you. Do you think they would be able to do it?" He asked. Elio thought about it for a little bit.

"I guess not..."

"Things are easy for us, Elio, and that's good. But I want you to have gratitude for the things you have, and understand that these luxuries don't come for free. Knowing the value of hard work will only make you a better man." His father concluded.

"Yeah, I know," Elio sighed. "Sorry, father. Maybe my pride got the best of me." He admitted.

"It's alright, my son," Sol smiled, ruffling his hair. "Another part of being a good man is owning up to your mistakes. You can start by apologizing to your mother." He said with a laugh. Elio, although a bit embarrassed by this, still smiled and laughed too...

Elio smiled a bit to himself, thinking back to such a fond memory. It was hard to believe that just 4 years ago, he was living in the Fire Nation as the growing son of a respected general. Now here he was, living in Ba Sing Se as a refugee in hiding.

He still did his best to carry out his father's lessons. His father was no doubt angry and disappointed at him for his choices. He would likely look down on Elio if he could see him now. Under different circumstances though, Elio liked to imagine that his father would be proud of how he'd grown.