Author's note:
And now, for something completely different.
A fan ficlet poem inspired by Spy X Family manga chapter 92, where "Grandpa" Sigmund Authen tutors Anya in Classical Language (here shown as Latin) showing Anya learning and study can be a joy, as Loid, who has always regarded knowledge as a weapon. In English with some Spanish. Read the A/N after note for translation and grammar notes.
Tip: Try reading this aloud. The single periods are spacers.
Thanks for reading.
"Ogres are like Onions...Orgers have layers. Onions have layers." - Shrek, from the movie Shrek
"This whole world is one giant onion. Big, and round, with one false layer after another. And if you cut through those layers of lies, there are gonna be tears." - Spy recruiter to "Roland Spoofy", from Spy X Family, Chapter 62.
FOR THE JOY OF LEARNING/CEBOLLA
.
DANGIT—
He's been losing his edge.
But
Knowledge is a tool to hone the mind,
Information slicing through ignorance.
If you cut too deep,
Will you cry?
.
January comes with first year final exams
And snow doldrums, melting into grey slush.
He stepped into a puddle,
Cold soaking sock and shoe.
.
Dammit—
The exams are happening in a week.
.
All week long
his daughter has been playing her Little Language Learners record
singing the ear-worm songs in Spanish
the record her mother bought for her.
Uno, dos, tres. ~
Los dias de la semana – The days of the week
Domingo, lunes. martes, miercoles...
Mi jardín tiene:
Las zanahorias y lechugas. Papas y cebollas...
Carrots and lettuce. Potatoes and onions.
.
All week long
his wife has been looping yarn,
crocheting doilies like snowflakes
in white, in mucho colores
with the patterns the neighbor gave her.
.
Why?
.
All for the joy of learning.
…
Their daughter skips and sings.
His wife crochets and chats.
The dog sleeps.
He tries to read.
.
He asks– The joy of learning?
Spanish Language isn't Classical Language.
This won't be on her test.
.
Why?
.
She answers–Why not?
Look at her learn, look at her joy.
Maybe she's skilled in it, maybe it's fun.
Mr. Authen tells me
That dead Classical Language is at the root
of many living words. Fácil, Facilis.
Easy, right?
.
Yet facility brings no felicity
When everything hangs upon
the forty points of eight stars,
or the blast of eight bolts.
Her facility in every subject might bring his stomach ease
But no thing can hang on one thing alone.
.
Watch her learn.
All, for the joy of learning.
.
Her songs rankling, knocking in his mind
Knock, knock—
Who's at the door?
.
Hello, Mrs. Authen.
Hello, Grammy Barb.
The lessons? Yes, she loves them.
The lessons? So much fun.
Oh, and you've come with some things for us?
.
Cookies for all
A Spanish grammar for his daughter.
A book of crochet patterns for his wife.
And oh, Mr. Sigmund's lent you a book too.
That thing you were interested about?
.
All for the joy of learning.
Good day, then.
.
He says—
Thank you.
And tries to read the newspaper.
.
His daughter says—
Papa, Mama. Listen.
I have a song.
Techo, pared, I hit my head, uh-oh.
Ventana, puerta, I am Anya-o,
and I have pelo rosado.
.
Celing and wall. Window and door.
You have pink hair, Anya.
Correct.
She points to Papa. Rubia.
Rubio, he corrects.
She points to Mama. Moreno.
Morena, he corrects.
.
She points to her head.
I brush my pelo rosado with a cebolla.
You mean cepillo, he corrects.
You don't brush your hair with an onion.
.
She puts her hands to her mouth
–Oops.
Cepillo, not cebolla.
.
Knowledge is a tool to hone the mind.
If you cut too deep, will you cry?
.
Her mother claps
–How much you know.
All for the joy of learning.
.
His daughter smiles
–I need a cepillo to brush the doggy.
Now have something else to say,
in Classical Language.
.
He folds his paper
–Okay. Tell us.
in Classical Language.
.
–Now listen up.
Pater est flavioous
Mater est neegra
Canus est albus
Filia est rosa
.
He crooks his brow in question.
Is the conjugation right? What about pronunciation?
The meaning's right, and so are the words.
What a joy.
–My girl, good job.
You are correct.
.
She stands square, hands on hips.
–Papa, I've got one more. Just for you.
To show you
the joy of learning.
So, listen.
Soy la hija.
Soy la hija de Papá.
I am your daughter, Papa.
.
He meets her square in the eye
–Good. That's right, but...
Estoy, he corrects.
Estoy la hija de Papá.
¿Eres mi hija?
You are my daughter?
.
Hands on hips,
She meets him square in the eye.
No.
Soy tu hija.
Soy tu hija, Papá.
I am
Your daughter,
Papa.
.
He stares silent
The paper folded in his hands
She smirks in triumph
and skips away, singing
a song of her own making.
Cebolla, cebolla, cebolla.
Cebolla.
.
All for the joy of learning.
.
Onion?
Onion, onion, onion...
If you cut too deep,
Will you cry?
…
It is time to make dinner.
His wife continues to crochet
His daughter continues to sing
He takes an onion
And puts it on the cutting board
Knowledge is a tool to hone the mind—
He chops.
.
Cebolla, cebolla, cebolla...
He does not cry
Instead, he looks
Layers of slices curve like moons
Pure white and glistening translucence
Pinpick pores that carry water
Sugars and starch
Biting scent and sharp taste
When met with heat
Caramelizing into something deep and sweet
The entire flavor foundation of a dish...
Cebolla, cebolla, cebolla.
.
He looks at the sliced onion
In wonder.
All for the joy,
Of learning.
Author's Note:
This is my imagining of something that could have occurred during Chapter 92. It's my headcanon that Anya is naturally good at languages, including Latin.
Grammar note-In Spanish, there are two ways to say "I am". "Soy" (I am) is used for things that you are and can't change, like being a daughter (Soy la hija/I am a daughter). "Estoy" (I am) is used for changeable states, like emotions, like "Estoy feliz" (I am happy.) So Loid, while not grammatically correct, is trying to say Anya being his daughter is a changeable thing, but Anya knows better. In these sections, the English translation directly follows the Spanish. I tried to check the grammar to ensure everything is correct. Words that end in "o" are male in gender, words that end in "a" are female in gender.
"Cebolla" means "onion". "Cebolla"/"Cepillo (Onion/Brush) is a play on words.
Uno, dos, tres: 1, 2, 3
Los dias de la semana : The days of the week
Domingo, lunes. martes, miercoles: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Mi jardín tiene: My garden has
Las zanahorias y lechugas. Papas y cebollas: Carrots and lettuce. Potatoes and Onions. (did you catch the wordplay of papa vs Papa?)
Fácil: Easy
Techo, pared: Ceiling, Wall
Ventana, puerta: Window, door.
Pelo rosado: pink hair
Rubio/Rubia: Blonde (male/female)
Moreno/Morena: Brunette or dark-colored (male/female)
Rough Latin Translation: Anya mispronounces the words. I also don't know Latin (minus random words) so I can't say if my grammar there is even right.
Papa is blonde/Mama is dark/The dog is white/The daughter is pink.
Thank you - Gracias - Peace.