I thought I might as well write one more thing.
-Randall Flagg2000
Sympathy for the Devil
You look at me and you hate me
You look at this withered body and you hate me
I'm not asking you to like me or anything
I'm just asking you to see it from my point of view
My true, justified view
You look at my family and you want to help them
Even that worthless, fucking cat who has no right to live
Well how can you say what I do is cruel?
Alienating and isolating them while I vent my anger on them?
It's my job as house leader to keep them in line
Just as it's your job to go to school or work
In a way that is what my home is: a school
You learn mathematics, history, and other lessons
My students "learn" every day that this is the only place they will be accepted
You and I are more then fit to be the teacher
We teach lessons, we provide hospitality, and we both know we're doing the right thing
And we like what we do
Isn't that what teaching is?
Is that what you and I are then?
Now you shake your head and shiver
"This cannot be" you say
Well what do you really know about the Soumas?
What do you really know about family?
I know you probably love your family, just like I love mine
And you probably don't ever want them to leave you, just like me
And of course, you probably have problems of your own in your family, don't you?
Yes, of course you do
You and I share many things in common
We just… have a different way of approaching them
I'm sure you understand that
Of course there are plenty of people like me all over the world
People whom you hate so much
But then, one cannot survive without the other, can they?
Without people like me, there would be no people like you, and vice versa
You should be thanking me
Without me, your way would be wrong
Without me, you are nothing
You depend on me even more then my own family does
Don't try to twist it around
In the days of old, my methods came first before what you call "love" or "affection"
And what do you know of my problems?
You know nothing
Leave my sight
I grow bored of looking at your ugly face
And on your way out, remember this:
You and I are two sides of the same coin
Now get out and leave me in peace
THE END
Now review.
-Randall Flagg2000