The most profitable tea shop in the city, The Jasmine Dragon, was in the midst of rush hour. It consistently got busier in the afternoon. Nevertheless, the proprietor Iroh remained occupied with brewing dozens of various teas. Meanwhile, his son, grandson, and his grandson's best friends were attempting to keep up with the rush. Finally, his grandson Zuko succeeded in sneaking away for a few moments to a private room.

The private room was specifically for his family. Inside he uncovered his great-grandmother, grandmother, and his great-grandmother's best friend. His Granny Ilah glanced up from playing Pai Sho. "Zuko? Are you alright? Please take a seat before you die from exhaustion!" his granny firmly ordered, to which he nodded.

Even in old age, Ilah remained one of the most captivating women in the world. His equally ravishing grandmother, Kimana, also frowned in concern. "Zuko, darling, you look like you're about to drop dead! Why haven't you taken a break? You're entitled to a half-hour break."

"It's been overly busy for me to take a break today, Grandmother. I know you and Granny are concerned, but I can handle it," he answered stubbornly. His grandmothers weren't amused by it, which was evident in their response.

"You and your stubbornness!" his granny shook her head. "Listen to your elders, Zuko," she started to scold her great-grandson gently. "I know you don't give up when it comes to anything. However, everyone needs to rest occasionally.

I'll deal with your grandfather if I must. However, I'm ordering you to take a short nap. I'll not have you give yourself a heart attack from being overworked," she declared, leaving no room for rebuke.

"Come, I've already set up the cot for you. We figured you need it," the albino Calypso directed the young man to a small adjacent space. Inside the room were a few comfortable cots. They had painted the walls in relaxing hues while rainforest sounds played from the speakers, making the space ideal for a quick catnap.

Once Zuko's head hit the pillow, he was out like a light. Calypso made sure she firmly locked the door. "I do hope your son, Ilah, doesn't get mad that Zuko is taking a nap," as she retook her seat.

The older lady smiled warmly, "Iroh's incredibly understanding, Calypso. Unlike Ozai, who never understood or offered anyone compassion." Ilah still sounded resentful regarding her secondborn.

"Dear Mother, please don't bring up Ozai. We both know it only outrages Father and makes you weep," Kimana tried to console her mother-in-law. Ozai was a pretty sore subject for the entire family.

She held her hands gently, "We all agreed that disowning Ozai was best for the family. He and his clan made their choices, and now they have to lie in the bed they made."

"Darling daughter, its still not that easy. Despite we've disowned and shunned him for his transgressions?" as she dabbed her honey-colored eyes some. Composing herself, she resumed, "Yes, he's committed unspeakable crimes against his family. Plus, he's a dangerous abuser. Yet, I shall never forget that his still my child."

"You're a good mother, Ilah. You shouldn't ever feel as if you failed Ozai. But, again, he made his own choice. Furthermore, he alone is accountable for the consequences of those actions," Calypso reminded her best friend.

Ilah exhaled, "It's simply hard not to consider I failed him. I understand all parents have some form of expectations of their children. I'm also painfully aware they're pros and cons to said expectations. Yet, we also impose expectations on ourselves as parents. I still can't help but feel I failed regarding the expectations I set for myself."

"Dear Mother, we can't hold ourselves beyond the limitations of what makes us human. Please remember, no parent knows what they're doing when they start a family. Yes, every parent must instruct their child in vital life lessons. For example, how to treat others respectfully, have a good work ethic and boundaries, and be a proper member of society.

Yet, we cannot fail to disregard this crucial lesson ourselves. All children are born blank slates. They're not born to meet our expectations. Therefore, we cannot force them to be our idea of who they should be. Instead, we must love them for who they are, not what we wish them to be."

"True enough, Kimana. I've heard way too many stories regarding parents playing favorites. Or they despised their children for not meeting their insane expectations or even not being the gender they desired!

It's all so appalling! We are all human! Furthermore, every child deserves to be unconditionally loved for who they are!" Calypso expressed firmly. Ilah gazed at her best friend, "Did you read or listen to a Reddit story regarding such behavior?" knowing her friend belonged to the platform.

"One involving parents mistreating their second born son because they desired a girl. Ugh, disgusting! If you can learn anything from Reddit? Then pay attention to the stories.

So you don't turn into a dense, entitled, narcissistic parent. Instead, treat people with empathy, love, and consideration. From all the stories I've listened to? It's shown everything someone shouldn't be!"

"I concur with Calypso. I've listened to an abundance of Reddit stories on YouTube, and I've learned plenty. But, also, I've long accepted that reality is stranger then fiction. So I, for one, don't think people are making things up. It's too outlandish not to be true.

Either way? All stories have one thing in common: what message its attempting to send. We need to pay more attention to the lessons they teach, for even the smallest one can make a world of difference," Kimana agreed as she sipped her tea.

"Life and time are the world's only true teachers we can all agree on. However, again back to parenting. While we didn't show Iroh any favoritism, Ozai behaved as if we did. Azulon and I were firm with both our sons. We had the same expectations from each of them. We desired them to be respectful, empathetic, hard-working individuals.

That they wouldn't blame others for their shortcomings or mistakes. Instead, own up to them. We wanted them to be self-sufficient and understand nothing in life is just handed to them.

You have to work for what you want. If you don't work for it, then it means nothing. Also, we didn't do anything to spoil either son. Their birthdays were the same. So no one was better then the other.

Therefore, I still don't understand how Ozai evolved into such a monster. Or why those undesirable traits had to be passed down to my only granddaughter. I'm flabbergasted despite how we're good parents Ozai and his family are so rotten," again, Ilah couldn't stop crying as she said this.

Kimana was silent for a few moments. Then she again offered her best words of comfort. "I genuinely don't understand it either, dear Mother. However, I believe you raised both of your sons right.

Iroh is an incredible individual who I adore with all my soul. Plus, Lu Ten turned out terrific as well. He and Ursa are doing an outstanding job with Zuko and Kiyi. So yes, I'm also baffled why my brother-in-law is such an appalling individual. I don't understand it either," Kimana divulged in defeat.

Calypso replenished everyone's cup before offering her answer. "Well, some might say he's just a rotten egg. However, I don't believe this is a case of nurture. I consider it more to do with nature. I suspect its in Ozai's nature to behave like a demon.

So, I highly doubt its how you nurtured him. Periodically it entirely comes down to nature. I'm sorry, but that's the only thing I can deduce on the matter," Calypso offered up.

"That makes the most logical sense. It's been unmistakable how much Ozai's entire family could use therapy for years. Sadly they've never received any of it. It makes you wonder how much of a difference it would make if they did get it," Ilah looked bittersweet from it. She downed her cup before resuming.

"I do understand therapy only works if you want it. Plus, actively work with your therapist. However, speaking of therapy? Do you think we should sign up for family therapy? Or perhaps one-on-one therapy? I rather not risk my great-grandchildren's mental health. What do you think, Kimana?"

"I believe its an excellent idea. We can discuss it with the rest of the family later this week. For now? Let's try and rest. It's been far too stressful here at the tea shop. Same with my flower shop. Perhaps, I can convince my husband to close the shop for a week. Because Zuko honestly looks like he's about to drop dead."

"Agreed. We'll talk about it over dinner this weekend. Now I'm afraid we must wake Zuko. Hopefully, a quick catnap is enough to get him through the rest of his shift," Ilah prayed aloud.

They quietly woke up Zuko. He still looked worn out. Yet he felt he could finish his shift without collapsing now. He hugged his family tightly before finishing his shift. Kimana did manage to convince Iroh to close the shop for a week. She also closed her flower shop for the same week. A week of rest was what everyone needed!


Kimana- Lauren Tom- Multiple voice acting roles

Ilah- Pam Hyatt- Kaede Inuyasha

Calypso- Willow Johnson- Kikyo


"Wisdom is knowing when to have rest, when to have activity, and how much of each to have." — Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

"Burnout is more of an issue of poor energy management and low clarity than of over-giving." - Brendon Burchard.

"There is virtue in work, and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither." — Alan Cohen.

"If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit." — Bansky


The best inheritance a parent can give his children is a few minutes of his time each day." –O. A. Battista

"So much is asked of parents, and so little is given." –Virginia Satir

"Parenting is a lifetime job and does not stop when a child grows up." –Jake Slope

"There is no such thing as a perfect parent. So just be a real one." –Sue Atkins.