Iolaus
watched as his father walked away. Skouros was the last person he
expected to see again. But then this was the Other Side and they
were both dead. What did he expect? A little warning would have
been nice though.
The
weight of emotions was too heavy and Iolaus had to sit down.
Suddenly
a figure moved to stand in front of him. He looked up to see
Persephone, a sad smile on her face.
"Family
..." he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Persephone
took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
"I
know what parents are like," she said. "But this is the
Other Side now. Can't you make peace with him?"
Iolaus
laughed. "It's not that easy, Persephone," he
said. "He was never what you can call a father'.
He left us when I was only little, leaving my mother to care for
her and the family all by herself." Iolaus head sunk down to
look at something at his feet.
Persephone
sat down next to him. "Why don't you tell me about
it?"
Iolaus
took a deep breath and his gaze searched for the back of his
father, as it melted into the group of soldiers. He shook his
head as the memories overcame him.
"Where
can I start?" he whispered. "My father, *the famous
general*!" he said with a mockery voice. "When my
sisters and I were little, he came home, sometimes with his
friends and companions ... and I had to hide. I was smaller than
the other boys my age and he was embarrassed to have a son like
me. His only son ..."
Iolaus
paused for a moment and leaned back against the wall behind them.
"He
only came home during his campaigns and never stayed long. I
think he hated being at home and he was depressed and
disappointed with me. I wasn't what he wanted and expected
in a son and he made sure I knew it. Every opportunity he got, he
told me. If not with his words, then with his fists."
Iolaus
was silent and stared at the ceiling. Then he shook his head and
looked at Persephone.
"I
got so infuriated, that I ran away from home on more than one
occasion. When I got older, I stopped running. I'd hit back,
stood up against him, which would infuriate him even further. I
wasn't a good son to my mother. I started to hang around
with the wrong guys, stole things, got into fights ... I am not
proud of what I have done."
Persephone
had sat next to him in silence, still holding his hand. She could
feel the hunter's hand trembling as the memories overcame
him. The goddess squeezed Iolaus' hand in reassurance as he
continued.
"Then
I met Hercules and everything changed. We fought together, back
to back and for the first time I knew what it felt like to have a
friend, to be trusted. When we got older, we started to travel
together. It was like a new life for me. I didn't go back
home for some time as I felt too embarrassed about what I had
done to my mother, the worries I had caused her ... and I
didn't want to face ... him. Then I heard that he had been
killed in battle. I didn't even know which battle it was,
and I didn't care. I felt nothing at his death...no,
that's not true. I felt betrayed. Betrayed, because he never
had apologized to me or my mother."
Iolaus
smiled as he remembered his last visit with his mother. "She
married a poet a couple of years ago and when I visited them, she
looked so happy."
Iolaus'
voice was shaking as he tried to control his feelings as tears
started to form in his eyes.
"I
know I can't blame him for what I did. I just wished he
would admit that he made mistakes and that he feels sorry."
Persephone
glanced over to where Skouros was standing amongst the soldiers.
"Well,
I think he is paying for it all now. Are you happy to see him
like this?"
Iolaus'
eyes went to stare at this father's form. "I don't
know," he sighted "I guess ... not really. He has done
a lot of bad things in his life, but who hasn't? In the end,
he is my father and ... he was a hero and maybe he should be in
this dark and sad place."
Persephone
smiled and put a comforting arm around Iolaus' shoulder.
A
motion behind them let them look up and they saw Hades standing
behind them. He stood, his hands folded together in front of him
and looked at Iolaus, his eyes stating that he had heard
everything.
"It
is nice to see that you are already taking over the Relocation
Department down here!"
Iolaus
gave the God of the Underworld an apologetic look.
"Hades,
I am sorry, I didn't ..."
Hades
raised a hand and stopped Iolaus in his tracks.
"As
it happens, I am just making some re-locations to free some space
here and there. With all those earthquake people coming in, I
need all I can find."
He
looked from Persephone to Iolaus and cleared his voice.
"There
are a couple of spaces free in the Elysian Fields ..."
Iolaus
and Persephone both looked at him in total un-comprehension.
Hades sighted - his brilliance was obviously not recognized
"Well,
your father." he helped out. "I thought you liked him
to maybe go to the Elysian Fields?"
Iolaus
tilted his head in bewilderment.
"Have
you been listening to anything I said?" he asked the God of
the Underworld.
Persephone
looked at Hades. "He has been so horrible to Iolaus and his
family. How can you sent him to the Elysian Fields?"
Hades
smiled. "Well, he has been down here for a while and I got
the impression, he doesn't feel at ease with himself. He
knows, he has done things wrong, just wont admit it. If he
genuinely apologizes to Iolaus, he can go."
Iolaus
laughed dryly. "No offence Hades, but I think Hera will
become the Goddess of Love and Mercy before he does that!"
Hades
smiled conspiratory. "You'll never know for sure until
you've tried." He pointed at the other side of the
room. "He is over there." he said "Why don't
you go over and talk to him?"
Iolaus
raised his hands defensively "Hades I don't think, this
..."
"He
has been thinking about what you said." Hades interrupted.
Iolaus
looked at Persephone, whose face had now adopted an encouraging
smile.
"Well,
I guess it couldn't hurt to try."
Iolaus
caught sight of his father and walked towards him. Skouros hat
left the group of arguing soldiers and sat on a rock with his
head resting in his hands. Iolaus stood over him. He took a deep
breath.
"Father
..." he started.
The
soldier's head came up and looked into the blonde's
blue eyes.
"What
do you want?" he whispered coldly.
Iolaus
sat down next to him. He never felt as uncomfortable as he did
now. His hands were sweating as he turned to look into the
general's weathered face.
"I
just wanted to say, I am sorry ... for what I said earlier. I
just thought, you could have ... you might wanted to ..."
Skouros
raised his head to meet his son's eyes. "You thought
what? Maybe that I would apologize to you?"
Iolaus
tried to read in his father's cerulean eyes, which were the
same as his.
"Well,
actually ... yes."
The
general laughed dryly and shook his head.
"Boy,
you are really something. I don't see what I should
apologize for. It should be you who should apologize. You have
been a disappointment to me and your mother from the day you were
born. I might have not been home much, but your mother told me
everything you did."
Skouros'
expression turned into aversion. "Stealing, running away,
raising your hand against your father ..."
Iolaus
moved away in shock. "That is not fair and you know
it!"
"Fair?"
Skouros jumped up from his seat and towered over his son. "I
tell you about fair. I hoped for a son who would grow up to be a
man with honour, a soldier, somebody one could be proud of,
somebody to trust, somebody who would take care of the family.
And what did I get? A cry baby, who runs away from home, lives on
the streets with thieves, steals ..."
Iolaus
voice was cold with disgust as he rose to stand in front of his
father.
"You
know nothing about me!" he whispered.
"I
know enough to say that I am embarrassed to call you my
son."
Iolaus
smiled coldly. "Looks like we have something in common
afterall. I don't see you as my father. I never have. After
the way you treated me...and mother, all I could see was a man
who boosted himself to be honourable and brave but didn't
have the guts to face his own 5-year old son."
Iolaus
brought his hands to his hips in defiance as he continued.
"Honour
and bravery? I tell you about honour and bravery. For years
mother lied to the neighbours, her friends and others about where
you were and why you didn't come home. She told everybody
what a great hero you were, defending the country and fighting
for what you believed. And bravery? Did you ever think about how
she managed without the husband to support her and her
family?"
Skouros
face was slowly turning red with anger. "You wouldn't
know what honour and bravery is if it hit you on the head."
Iolaus'
rage was now unstoppable. All the emotions he felt and suppressed
for years were now overwhelming him. All the memories poured
through his mind, images of his mother, his sisters and it was
almost as if he could still feel the countless beatings he'd
received from his father's hand.
"How
dare you speak to me about bravery?" he spat at the older
man. "Look at you! You died in some pointless battle, people
don't even remember anymore. Not you or the battle. Not even
your family wants to remember. Your grave is in some far away
country, nobody will ever visit it. Pathetic really, but it fits
perfectly, I find."
Iolaus
was so enraged, that he never saw the strike coming.
His
father hit him straight across the face. The power behind the big
man's strike threw Iolaus backwards and he crashed into the
wall behind him, his head knocking against the stone wall. Blood
started to trickle from his nose and the corner of his mouth. He
shook his head to clear the dizziness away that now threatened to
engulf him and looked up into Skouros' hate-filled eyes.
Three
soldiers had rushed in and restrained the general's arms,
preventing him from throwing himself at his son.
Iolaus
produced a dry laugh.
"You
haven't changed," he said, wiping the blood out of his
face with the back of his hand.
He
looked at his hand in disgust.
"You
will never change."
Then
Iolaus turned around and faced Hades, who had been watching the
scene. Iolaus gave the God of the Underworld a despiteful look.
"There
is no point." he whispered and pushed him out of his path as
he walked away.
Hades
watched Iolaus go until he disappeared behind a corner. Then he
turned around to face the still enraged general. He took a deep
breath and motioned the soldiers.
"Let
him go!" he ordered harshly.
The
soldiers released Skouros' arms. The general straightened
his body and rubbed his arms.
"Well,"
he started "What do you say? That boy needs manners. That is
not the way to speak to ..."
"Be
quiet!" Hades cut his sentence off, the weight of his voice
not allowing any objections.
He
had it with generals. What was it with those guys? Didn't
they get anything? If it was up to him, he'd lock them all
up together and through the key away. Actually it was up to him
and so far he had thought up some pretty good punishments for
them, but there must be some other way.
"You
still don't get it, do you?" he said. "You are
dead and you haven't spent one minute reflecting on your
life ..." Hades motioned into the direction Iolaus had
marched off. "... or his. He is your son, for Zeus'
sake. You should be making peace with yourself and with him, but
instead you behave like nothing has changed for you."
Skouros
watched with un-comprehension as Hades continued.
"Well,
I've got news for you, Pal. Your son is one of the bravest
and most courageous people I have ever met. Have you ever taken
the time and looked at what he has achieved in his life? Did you
ever look behind his appearance?"
Skouros
stood determined. "I have seen where he was heading ... he
is not a ... he could never ..."
Hades
laughed. "I think it is time, you met your son, General
Skouros."
With
those words, he pushed the soldier down on a chair and with a
circular movement of his gloved hand, he opened a window ...
Iolaus
stood, shaking and panting with his fists raised. The larger boy,
the leader of the group, which had ambushed and surrounded him in
a side street, stood in front of the smaller boy, his arms
crossed in front of his chest.
"Well,
if it isn't the Cry Baby'!" he shouted to
his comrades. "Isn't that what your father calls
you?"
Iolaus'
face was red with anger. "Ah, he's not worth the
effort. Just give us your money and we'll let you go home to
Mama!"
Iolaus
straightened his body and stared proudly at the taller boy.
"Why don't you try and take it?" he snared.
The
taller boy hesitated at the defiance starring at him. Iolaus
smiled viciously at his opponent's hesitation
"Ah,
the big Tauron - a little scared, hum?"
Tauron
looked at him in disgust.
"Get
him!" he ordered and eight boys charged at Iolaus.
He
was hopelessly outnumbered but managed to deliver some vicious
blows to his attackers. The little blond boy was too busy fending
his attackers, that he never noticed Tauron picking up a piece of
wood and sneaking up behind him. With a vicious smile, the tall
boy raised his hand to bring the bat crashing down on
Iolaus' head. As the hand started it's decent, it
suddenly encountered resistance. Another boy had stepped in and
positioned himself behind Iolaus back. He was tall and had
grabbed Tauron's hand holding it in a firm grip.
"Pick
on someone your own size!" he commented dryly and whacked
the hand holding the bat forwards into Tauron's own face.
The
boy saw stars and crashed to the floor. Iolaus had only time to
quickly glance around and smile at his helper, then the two
stood, back to back and boys finished off the gang. Battered but
smiling they shook hands as they stood over the bodies of the
knocked out boys. Iolaus' smiled up at the boy, who stood
one head taller than himself.
"Thanks
for your help, man." he said catching his breath.
The
taller boy smiled.
"Any
time. Not that it looked you'd needed it though. My name is
Hercules. What's yours?"
"Iolaus."
"Well,
nice to meet you, Iolaus. You've got some nice moves!"
Iolaus
smiled at his new found friend
"Yours
aren't bad either, Herc!"..........
A
group of soldiers stood around a table. Hercules and Iolaus
smiled and looked at the man at its head.
"Jason,"
said Hercules "The King of Corinth has brought back the
Golden Fleece!"
Jason
smiled at all of them.
"No,
Argonauts," he said in a festive voice "we have done it
together. And I want to thank you, Hercules and Iolaus. Your
bravery has inspired all of us. We would have never done it
without you."
The
men raised their glasses.
"To
Hercules and Iolaus!" Archivus shouted.
"To
Jason!" offered Otis.
"To
heroes!" said Iolaus.
Everybody
looked at him and laughed. Bringing their glasses together, they
exclaimed:
"To
heroes!" ...
Iolaus
stood at the fence of his house and looked into Anja's
beautiful eyes.
"I
promise, I'll be back soon." he said trying to reassure
her.
"You
better," she replied biting back tears, "Otherwise
I'll have to marry somebody else!"
"Then
you'd be settling for second best, because there is nobody,
who loves you as much as I do !"
He
pulled her into a passionate embrace ...
Hercules
and Deianeira stood at the door to the small bedroom in
Iolaus' house and watched helplessly. Tears streamed down
Iolaus' ashen face as he held his wife in his arms.
Anja
was dying.
"Don't
leave me " Iolaus pleaded. "I can't do this
without you ... I can't ... what about our son?" he
motioned at the nearby cod, where their newly born baby was
laying.
"You
can't leave us ... please ... Anja ..." his voice broke
under the pain and the tears.
More
time.
He
wanted more time.
Anja
smiled at him softly and brought her pale hand up to caress his
cheek.
"I
will always love you, Iolaus." she whispered.
Her
voice was so weak, he thought, so far away.
"You
will be a wonderful father."
"No
... no ... I can't do this alone ... please ..."
He
held her close to him, wishing he could transfer some of his
strength into her withering body. The hunter felt her warmth
against his body and knew the moment she died. The last breath
left her still form, her heart stopped and her head fell gently
to the side to rest on his chest.
"Anja?"
Iolaus asked fearfully.
"Anja
... Noooo!" he cried.
Hercules
and Deianeira moved up behind him. The blonde woman put her arm
comforting around the hunter's shoulders and Hercules
covered Anja's body with a blanket. In silence, they watched
their friend cradle his wife's lifeless body in his arms. No
words could help to relieve such grief ...
Iolaus
stood laughing, picking straw out of his tousled, blonde hair.
Deianeira shook her finger warningly and smiled at him.
"How
often did I tell you not to beat up Hercules?"
Iolaus
laughed. "Ah, there were a couple of new moves I wanted to
try out, that's all. He was just lucky you came when you
did."
She
looked at him sadly. "Well, we're just lucky you came
when you did, too."
The
hunter's face became serious. "Why, what's
wrong?"
Deianeira
turned to make sure Hercules had gone into the house. "Well,
it's like he's going stir-crazy just being around the
house."
Iolaus
leaned against the wooden pillar behind him. His face gained a
sad expression. "I know what that feels like," he
sighted. "I never would have thought it would be so
difficult being a father and a mother."
Deianeira
stepped forward and took his hands in hers.
"Anja
would be so proud of you."
He
smiled sadly. "I just wish she could see me, that's
all."
Deianeira's
heard went out to the blonde hunter.
"Come
here," she said and pulled him into a comforting embrace ...
The
bar was crowded with people. Iolaus stood facing the black haired
woman. Her eyes were as black as her hair as they focused on him.
"Where
is Hercules?" she asked her voice showing no sign of
emotion.
"He
is not here
Iolaus
looked at her more closely "Wait a minute, you're the
Enforcer ! You're supposed to be dead!"
Her
black eyes stared at him.
"I
am back." she snared as she turned and headed for the door.
Iolaus looked around him. He had to stop her, but the inn was
full of people, people who could get hurt or killed. He ran
towards the door to block her way.
"Everybody,
get out of here as quick as you can!"
She
stopped a foot short in front of him and gave him a questioning
look. Iolaus glanced at her in defiance.
"You'll
get to Hercules over my dead body!"
He
thought about what he had just said and to whom he had just said
it.
"
over my strong objection!" he corrected himself.
He
had to try everything to stop her from reaching Hercules, but he
knew, had had no chance.
It
was just a question of how long he could delay her ...
Iolaus
stood with Hector and Linus in the royal bedroom. He looked down
at a piece of paper which had been attached to a dagger, driven
into the pillows on the bed.
"It
is a trap!" Hector commented.
Iolaus
nodded and looked into the distance, assessing their options.
"Yes,
I know. But we should take the bait anyways."
Hector
was outraged. "It's too dangerous. If you die, I loose
both my kings!"
Iolaus
turned round and looked insulted at his two companions.
"I
wont die ... at least I hope I won't ..." and more to
himself, he added "Hercules wouldn't".
"It's
too risky" Linus added.
Iolaus
looked firmly at both of them. "I promise you, one way or
another - you will have a king".
Leandra
stood in the clearing and looked at her grandson. His hand held a
black medallion shaped like an entangled snake.
"This
is the only thing I have from my father. He was wearing it when
he was found abandoned at the river. "
Recognition
built up in her eyes as she looked at the medallion.
"This
was my husbands. My son wears it to play soldiers. Where is he?
Can I see him? Will he even remember me?".
Iolaus
felt it was time for the painful truth. "Leandra, your son
... my father ... is dead."
Leandra
looked at him as tears formed in her eyes.
"No!"
she whispered. "I should have never let him out of my
sight!"
Iolaus
pulled her into a gentle embrace.
"I
am sorry " he said. " It happened in battle. He became
a great soldier ... a general"
"Like
his father before him. Sons take after their fathers. I am sure
you are a reflection of him."
Iolaus'
eyes sank uncomfortably to the floor.
"In
a way..." he whispered.
Iolaus
wiped the blood away from his face as he walked away from
Haephestus' forge. Suddenly he felt a sword at his throat
and turned around slowly to face the God of Fire.
Haephestus' face was cold.
"You
destroyed my dog, bested my shield and defeated my armoured
warriors"
Iolaus
turned slowly to face the him. "Where is Aphrodite?" he
demanded defiantly.
Haephestus
lowered his weapon and his face adopted a gentle smile.
"You
brought her to me and for that I will be forever grateful!"
Aphrodite
stepped out of the bushes and clung her arm around Haephestus.
"Hello,
Sweetcheeks," she said to the blonde hunter. "Sorry I
didn't help you with those moves you showed me." she
turned to the God of Fire and her hand made its way down his
back. "I was showing Hephy here some moves of my ow !"
Haephestus'
face turned red with embarrassment. "Dite! Please!"
Iolaus
mouth dropped open "Dite?" he asked in amusement.
The
Goddess of Love smiled at him. "Well, the God of Fire only
takes a little spark to start an awesome flame."
Haephestus
turned back to Iolaus. "I owe you a great dept. If you and
Hercules ever need weapons ..."
"Hercules
doesn't do weapons!" Aphrodite interrupted. She glanced
at Iolaus.
"Go
and make somebody happy, Curly.... or don't you and Hercules
don't do that either?"
Pandeon
watched silently as Iolaus and his mother said farewell.
"I
am sorry, mother, I would have come home earlier, if I
hadn't thought ..."
"That
I'd miss you? That you didn't matter to me? You should
have know better!"
Iolaus'
eyes sank to the floor. "But I caused you so much
trouble."
"You
were a child, Iolaus. And when you were lost and couldn't
find your way. I believed in you and you've proved me
right."
His
mother stood and looked firmly into Iolaus' cerulean eyes.
"I
am proud of you, my son!" she said.
Tears
formed in the hunters eyes as she pulled him into her arms. As
they parted he smiled at her with all the love of his heart. He
turned to Pandeon and shook his hand in a warrior's
handshake.
"Don't
be a stranger, Iolaus," he said. "You're always
welcome!"
Iolaus
nodded.
"Come
back soon." Erythia added. Iolaus smiled warmly.
"I
will ... I promise."
He
took his sword and turned to walk out. Outside, he shouldered his
sword and a big smile lit his face.
The
only thing on Iolaus' mind was to find Hercules.
The
new enforcer was worse then before and he had not been able to
defeat her. She had left him for dead after they fought in the
clearing and as he regained consciousness, he struggled to make
his way to warn his friend. The pain in every part of his body
robbed him of his breath, but he forced himself to keep going.
His eyes were swollen and filled with tears of pain, yet he could
see Hercules and two other figures below him at the familiar
lake.
"Herc
..."
His
voice sounded like it was coming from somebody else's body.
But his friend had heard him and turned to look up. Iolaus
stumbled and fell down the hill into the arms of his best friend.
"There
is ... a new enforcer ... at Hera's temple ... worse than
before ..... she's after ... y-ou ..."
A
last spasm of pain went through his battered body and his limbs
went still in Hercules' arms.
"Iolaus...NOOOO!"
Hercules'
scream of agony and knowledge that his best friend had given his
life protecting him ripped through the countryside .... and
through Hades' chamber.
Skouros
felt Hercules' pain soar through his own head and he gasped
for breath as the power of the emotions drove him to his knees.
The vision window had closed and Hades stood towering over him,
his arms crossed in front of his chest. The general looked up at
the God of the Underworld.
"I
never knew ... how could I have known " he whispered
in confusion.
Hades
watched him in silence. Skouros' eyes averted towards the
ground.
"So
much pain ... so much agony in his life and still, he did so much
good, helped so many."
In
disbelieve, he looked up into Hades' face.
"He
took on the Gods ... for what he believed ... for his friend ...
for Hercules."
Tears
streamed down the General's cheeks.
"It
was my fault. I should have never ... said the things I did. I
realize now. I drove him away ... from his mother, from his home
... my home. It was easier to leave them than to stand by them. I
was too blind to see."
The
soldier sat crouched into himself, weeping. "What have I
done?"
Hades
looked at him.
"It
is not too late, Skouros." he stated. "Iolaus is hurt,
but he is brave and has a good heart. He will forgive you, if you
face him, honestly and openly."
Skouros
shook his head, disgusted at himself. "How can I? After what
I have done to him? I spoke to him of honour and bravery ... what
did I know?"
He
buried his face in his hands. "I hit him. It wasn't the
first time ... he will never forgive me."
Hades
looked across the room.
"Why
don't you think about everything."
He
spotted Iolaus sitting on a rock on the other side of the large
chamber.
"Iolaus
is over there. When you feel you're ready, do what you think
is best."
Hades
put an encouraging hand on the old soldier's shoulder and
walked away to find Persephone.
Skouros
sat weeping.
Hades
had found Persephone. She had spent the past hours comforting
Iolaus and had just left him to search for her husband. She now
walked next to him in silence as they went to find Iolaus and
check on the situation. The God of the Underworld wasn't
sure whether he liked his beautiful wife, daughter of Demeter, to
spent so much time with Iolaus. She seemed to cling to the
hunter's arm a little too often and the smile she gave
Hercules' friend almost resembled the smile he thought was
reserved for him. Hades shook his head. Na, he thought,
she's just trying to comfort him. She is very compassionate.
Secretly
though he wished, Hercules would hurry up and defeat Hera's
latest enforcer, so he could send Iolaus back. He wasn't
very excited about the idea of Iolaus and Persephone spending any
more time together. Those mortals and their feelings. How could
anybody make any sense out of it?
The
couple spotted Iolaus sitting where Persephone had left him.
"He
behaves like his pet-parrot has died." Hades decided.
Persephone
stopped dead in her tracks and turned to look at him.
"Hades,
sometimes you're such a jerk."
Hades
returned an innocent look "What did I say?"
"Everything
except what you should have. He is thinking about his
father!"
As
the pair approached the hunter, he stood up and gazed at the
figure of his father across the room. Persephone stood at his
side and gently touched his arm.
"Iolaus,
are you all right?" she asked with a worried voice.
Hades
gave her a surprised and confused look. That was a little too
compassionate for his liking!
Iolaus
looked at her and smiled. But the smile didn't reach his
eyes.
"Yeah,
I am fine. It's just that ..." he sighted at the
soldier's figure across the chamber. "Is he so
different from me? I mean he has is strengths and weaknesses -
boy, does he have weaknesses. I can't blame him for my
behaviour. I just ..."
Suddenly
he noticed that Skouros had crossed the room and now stood in
front of him. The general took a deep breath and it was as if it
took all his strength to speak.
"I
have lied to you, son," he began. "I thought of your
mother and you kids every single day after I walked out on you. I
was just too ashamed to come back."
Iolaus
saw the struggle in his fathers eyes. He shrugged his shoulders
and smiled gingerly.
"I
am sorry you felt that way. And I guess, I shouldn't have
said the things I said."
Skouros
looked into his son's eyes and for the first time noticed
how very much he looked like his mother.
"No,
I deserved every bit of it!"
Well,
you all know the rest .......