"Now that I have you safe where you belong, and I'm fairly sure I have your attention, I'm going to say some things you need to hear and you're going to listen. We've all been running from too many issues for too long, but running away is not acceptable and we won't tolerate it anymore, from ourselves or from you; we've waited for months in silence for a resolution, but the silence ends now. It's time we talk about accountability—yours in particular. You're our son, Clark, and we love you very much--nothing has the power to change that--but you need to understand that your actions over the past few months have serious consequences--and we're going to deal with them now.
"First, the lying. Specifically, you lying to us. I'm sorry that you can't be completely honest with your friends; believe me, I hate it just about as much as you do because I know it makes your life more difficult than it should be, and that's not fair. But Clark, none of this is fair to any of us. Your mother and I have kept your secrets longer than you've known about them, and we only kept them from you until you were ready to handle them. We could have handled what you were going through with Jor-El, could have helped you deal with it, but you didn't give us that credit; you chose to lie to us about it instead. We should be able to trust each other as a family, but it's pretty obvious that you don't trust us and haven't for a while now, and as much as it pains me to say it, son, your actions make it pretty clear that we can't trust you. We'd really like that to change, but that will have to be your decision—if you do want our trust back, you're going to have to be willing to give it work and time, and if you don't care about our trust, then the next couple of years are going to be rough around here, because I'm telling you right now that there won't be any moving back to the city every time things get sticky here. We are a family; we love each other unconditionally, we stick together, and we try to deal with challenges as a family. We have to be honest with each other—we owe each other that respect. And it seems to me, son, that you haven't really shown a lot of respect for us lately, or for your friends, or for yourself for that matter, and that has got to change."
Jonathan felt Clark tense again beneath his hands, and his own heart clenched, but he knew that they all needed to hear this, to endure this cleansing and make room for healing. Resolve unwavering, he took a breath and continued.
"I will be the first to admit that I have unintentionally allowed you to get away with far too much disrespectful behavior, and now we're all paying for my failings and your choices. Some of it is pretty obvious stuff—calling your mother and me by our given names, sneering or shrugging when we tell you things, being dishonest with us, discounting your friends' intelligence in your relationships. But then there's also the evasive attitude when we want to know what's going on in your life, the whining and wheedling, playing us against each other to get your way, and let's not forget using red kryptonite—which you know is basically a drug to you and would eventually kill you—and taking a swing at me. And the worst of it by far is the running away. This is all childish behavior, Clark, but this isn't child's play; you're better than all of this. We don't expect you to be a man yet, but we do expect you to behave as though you know that you are worthy of respect, and that means acting with honor and dignity and treating others with the same respect. You're going to have to work to earn back some respect from us and from your friends, and it won't be easy but it will be worth the effort."
Clark had stopped eating, and with each issue Jonathan addressed, the boy's head hung lower. Jonathan took the opportunity to put his thumbs to work on the knots in the back of Clark's neck, keeping his movements rhythmic and his voice low.
"We also seem to have an issue with disobedience. Part of showing us respect and of behaving responsibly and with honor is following our instructions. When we ask you to do something we have a right to expect you to do it, whether you like it or not, and when we ask you not to do something there's generally a very good reason—usually because we're trying to protect you from danger or pain. Contrary to popular opinion, we don't go around spouting platitudes all day just for the fun of it, son; we say what we think you need to hear in that moment, and we have a right to expect you to listen. We have authority over you so that we can keep you safe and help you become the great man we know you can be; that means we have a right to your respect and obedience. That also means that you have the right to expect us to be there for you in any way we can, and to love you unfailingly whether it feels good or not, and to give you a reason to avoid doing things that put your safety or your health or your integrity at risk. So there are consequences for disobedience and disrespect in this family, some of which you're already feeling and some which you'll face tomorrow." Jonathan let his hands lay still on Clark's shoulders long enough for the father to lean down, murmuring gently in his son's ear. "We will get through this, I promise."
He straightened and started kneading the juncture between Clark's neck and shoulders, drawing a breath in an effort to stay calm as he stepped into the part of this accounting that upset him the most.
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