Chapter 4

"Seeing the Movie at Last"

On the day that he agreed to take Bart to see the new "Itchy and Scratchy" movie, Homer was feeling very reluctant. Part of him felt that he had failed as a parent by letting his guard down. He had enforced a punishment that in his mind hoped would make Bart change his ways, but it caused him more harm than good.

"Homer, I hope you understand that this is the best for both of you," Marge said in their bedroom on the morning of seeing the movie. "I know Bart may be a little smart ass to both of us, because even I feel that way, but even I know when I have crossed the line in disciplining him."

"Well, you did cross the line by betraying me and dumping out all of my beer that I spent my hard earned money on…"

However a glare from Marge's eyes prevented Homer from finishing his sentence.

"Because, like I said before, I wanted nothing more than to put you in Bart's shoes," Marge interrupted and placing a hand on Homer's shoulder. "Making you feel what it feels likes. It's something Lisa tried to tell you about being forbidden from watching the moon landing that gave me the idea."

"Honey," Homer sighed, sitting at the edge of his bed. "I've got a confession to make. I was listening to music that day. I had no interest in the moon landing at all. But, that's beside the point. All I did was try to man up and teach Bart a lesson so that he doesn't do something like this again. Sadly, all this is doing to me is making me a bad parent, seeming like I have no backbone whatsoever."

"You do have a backbone, Homer," Marge replied, sitting next to him. "We all have backbones. It's a part of who we are. But sometimes even we need to understand when the backbone needs to bend a little. You bent Bart's backbone when you ripped up his hard-earned movie ticket and I bent your backbone when I dumped all of your hard-earned beer down the drain."

Homer realized that Marge was right. He did have a backbone that was bent by his own doing. In his mind, everything that Bart's teacher said was true. Bart needed direction, Bart needed discipline in order to become a successful adult, but it was how he handled it that put him in the situation he was in.

"I...I... okay, I get what you are saying, Marge," Homer sighed. "I did bend Bart's backbone, but I was only doing it to teach him a lesson for putting Maggie in danger. Personally, now that you mentioned it, I wish I could have gone back to that moment and just strangled Bart like I always do, but I can't. In fact, I couldn't help but do a lot of thinking."

"What kind of thinking?"

"That when we discipline our kids, we sometimes don't think of the consequences we are also imposing on them. Maybe I need to learn how to discipline Bart without being so forceful on him. I mean, I too, want Bart to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or something successful like that."

"He doesn't have to be Justice of the Supreme Court, but that is beside the point. What I am trying to say is that you can still learn those techniques, Homer. There is still time, but you are also learning that…"

"I know what you are saying, Marge. I've heard it from the Reverend Lovejoy and now I'm hearing it from you. Although, perhaps maybe I should also learn that I can't let certain things get to my head. I punished Bart so I can stretch my ego as a perfect father."

"And you can't let that happen, Homer. Bart's just a young boy with his whole life ahead of him. Bart's teacher was right on us being more tough on Bart, but underneath all that toughness, there is a little person inside of us telling us what is right and what is wrong. I listened to that little person inside of me, but you didn't. Tell me, what is that little person inside of you telling you now?"

"To let go of my pride and take Bart to see the movie right?" Homer guessed and Marge nodded in reply that he had guessed correctly. "And maybe get my beer privileges back?"

"Yes and after you both see the movie, you can start drinking beer again."

…

Sure enough, Homer and Bart went to the movies that day and finally saw the Itchy and Scratchy movie together. Homer was delighted to see the happiness in Bart's eyes at seeing his favorite cartoon characters on the screen. Once again, he felt himself in Bart's shoes.

"Perhaps Marge was right," he thought to himself as they watched the craziness unfold on the big screen. "The way Bart feels about seeing this movie is how I felt about drinking. It's a sanctuary for both of us and we were both denied that sanctuary."

…

When they returned home that afternoon from seeing the Itchy and Scratchy movie, Homer went to the fridge and inside was a new pack of Duff Beer that hadn't been dumped out by Marge and for the first time in a while, Homer sat on the couch and drank his sanctuary. Later, he made his way over to Moe's and sat with all his drinking buddies.

"Hey Homer, longtime no see," remarked Moe, the Bartender.

"Marge let you have beer again?" asked Lenny.

"Yeah, but I guess I learned something today," answered Homer as he sat at the bar in his usual spot. "Of what it feels like to have something you love taken away when you can't control your ego."

"Well, it's good to hear you got it back, Homer," said Carl as Barney let out a celebratory belch.

"Thanks guys."

…

THE END