My
father has been home for 5 years now. After spending 10 years fighting the
Trojans and 10 years trying to get home he has now returned as the ruler of
Ithaca. He has fought alongside men such as Achilles, battled a Cyclops, defied
the Gods, has been to Hades, and slaughtered all the heirs of neighboring city states
who tried to marry my mother and take over his kingdom. When he recounted his
story he told us all, that he did this so he could get back to his wife
Penelope, my mother. He has been home for 5 years now and has retained the
throne and has been ruling Ithaca ever since.
When my father came home and retained the
throne it was a joyous occasion. When he saw my mother, he embraced her and
wept. When I saw Odysseus he embraced me and told me he was proud of me. The
people of Ithaca also rejoiced when their ruler finally returned home and there
was a celebration that lasted for weeks. Everyone in the kingdom from slave to
soldier was happy to have their king back and be rid of the suitors who tried
to usurp the throne of Ithaca.
When
my father returned home we would spend days riding horses on the beach, hunting
the animals on our lands, and partaking in archery. Every evening was a grand
feast and after the feast he would spend his evenings with my mother on the
balcony overlooking the ocean and they would look at the stars and watch the
waves crash on the ocean.
That’s
how things went the first year or so my father was home. Gradually over time
things began to change. He now spends every moment talking and reminiscing
about the war and his journey home. Especially during dinner when he has drink
in him and he has everyone in the dining halls attention. He has also began to
pick up the trade of soldiering again. He is out every day with his men
training and preparing for war. He takes journey’s to neighboring city states
to visit men who he served with him in the Trojan War and sometimes he will be
gone for weeks on end. He has also erected monuments all over Ithaca to his
fallen brothers and soldiers. When he is not doing this he is very restless. I
will see him sometimes up at all hours of the evening restlessly pacing back
and forth or reading accounts of the Trojan War. He has also written a book
about his 10 year journey from Troy to our kingdom of Ithaca. On one specific
occasion my mother stirred me one evening in a panic. She told me that she
could not find Odysseus and that he, his bow, sword and shield were missing.
After rousting the guard we scoured Ithaca looking for our king. We finally
found him on the beach with his sword stuck in the sand and he sat there gazing
out at Poseidon’s vast ocean. We asked him what was wrong and his only reply
was that he decided to go for a walk and it was best to take something to
defend himself.
This
behavior has been going on going for 4 years now. I have tried to relate to my
own father by talking to him about my own adventures and he would say he was
proud of me but nothing can relate to what he went through. During our latest
nightly feast he arose and stated that he planned to relinquish the throne and
make me ruler of Ithaca. He stated that I have grown as a man, a leader, and a
soldier and that the kingdom will be in good hands. Everyone was in shock and
without showing any emotion I arose and stated that I would gladly take the
responsibility. After the feast my father spoke to both myself and his beloved
Penelope. He stated he loved us but he must once again cross the ocean. He said
that he has been lost and a part of him has been missing since he returned
home. He continued to say that he got a sense of accomplishment and joy leading
his men in combat against the Trojans and that his 10 journey home he fought
the ocean, Gods, and monsters. Because of that he cannot relate to anybody in
his kingdom and that he is essentially a lost soul. My mother stated that other
great men have done similar things and that they were able to move on and he
begged Odysseus to stay with her in Ithaca. My father responded that he is not
like other men and that he must do this. He said he would depart quietly in the
morning and he stated he did not know when he would return.
That
morning my father departed Ithaca on his ship. When he left I realized what a
veteran soldier once told me. He stated, “Once you cross the ocean all you
think about is going home. Once you are home all you think about is crossing
the ocean.
