Cyclops Has a Problem
CYCLOPS HAS A PROBLEM
Cyclops just isn’t that perceptive. He has a rather limited view to solving problems and can’t see anything in a very balanced way. He’s not very good at looking beyond his singular point of view and tends to be a pretty myopic guy. He’s not real easy to be in any kind of relationship with because his perspective on anything has some obvious blind spots. He’s pretty short-sighted too. Even his hindsight is poor.
Cyclops’ life partner is a sheep named Edith, but Edith needed some space. She was tired of Cyclops inability to really see her. She isn’t overcomplicated, her favorite things are ruminating with her ewe friends and watching the clouds roll by like big, fluffy sheep, but she also has a depth of warmth and is a feelings kind of creature. Cyclops didn’t like to talk about his feelings, and she had had enough of him herding her around, making all the decisions without consulting her, and he is one of those tunnel vision kind of guys who tries to fix something until it’s irreparably broken. So one day, after an argument in which he sheared her out of anger, she went looking for greener pastures.
Cyclops has only two friends, a real bullheaded one named Minotaur and a vampire bat named Click. Click was always hanging around, so he went to him with his problem.
In contrast to Cyclops, Click is a well-regarded friend. Although he may not say much, he’s all ears. You couldn’t find a better listener. He is adept at allowing words to echo around and really help to map out the room. You can bounce ideas off him and he’ll guide you through it, even if you’re totally in the dark.
“Well pal, Edith left me. I never saw it coming.”
“…”
“Relationships are hard. Gave her everything she needed. I was a good provider and she had security and comfort. What does she even want from me?”
“…”
Cyclops pulled out a canteen and took a long gulp. He winced as he put the cork back in with a hard slap. “Tell me about it. I don’t know. Guess I wasn’t real happy all the time either, but life isn’t just about happiness.”
“…”
“Sure, there’s some things I could change. There’s some things she could change too. Or at least just accept. I know she had wanted some lambs of her own, but I’m sterile, y’know. She wanted to adopt, but it’s not the same.” Cyclops chewed his lip with his giant buck teeth. Then he pulled at his beard, rocked back on his heels, and adjusted his fur pelt.
Click stretched out one bat wing and then the other, giving it a couple of licks before pulling it back in like a cloak before going on, “…”
“I know I can be difficult to live with. Like, she’d try to do these little things around the place, but if I failed to notice, she’d get all cold to me and I wouldn’t even know why and then I’d get sick of her acting kind of mopey and sure, maybe I’d kind of bark at her to snap her out of it, but I don’t know. Then we’d fight, and she’d cry and then, only then, she’d finally come out with what I’d done. It was like she was testing me all the time. I just loved her in my own way, y’know.”
“…”
“Yeah, but it’s not like I didn’t make some changes for her. I haven’t eaten anyone in like 15 years. I pick up my clothes off the floor, eat with a fork, and… I don’t know, a bunch of stuff. I cooked some of the time. Not like she had to serve me.”
“…”
“Well, maybe that’s true, but why does everything hafta be emotional? Most things aren’t. When you’re cold, build a fire. When you’re tired, go to sleep. When you’re hungry, eat. It’s pretty simple.” Cyclops hit his chest with one solid thump before he continued, “Why does it hafta be about what it means? When something needs doing, ya do it. Why would I feel one way or the other about it?”
“…”
Cyclops interrupted, “hold on, I need a piss. I’ve been drinkin’ a bit.”
“…”
“Whaddya mean? You just do what you have to.”
“…”
Cyclops rolled his eye. “Well, sure. Of course there’s more I could have done, but I don’t know. And yeah, I miss her, OK. That means something doesn’t it? That’s emotional.”
“…”
“I guess you’re right. That is my answer. I’ll talk to her. She can just be so flustrating sometimes.”
Click opened and closed his mouth. His right ear turned to pick up some additional cave sounds.
“Relationships are hard.”
“I hear ya buddy.”
“Thanks, Click. You’re a true friend.”
Cyclops eventually convinced Edith to come back, promising to talk about what it was like growing up with a god for a father and other things. Whether anything changed is another story. But it wasn’t all bad, there was a lot of good stuff in their relationship too.
Next Story...