In the Real World
Page 45
“Never,” Jerome assures him.
“What about Mum? Does she know about this?”
“Yes, it’s all arranged,” Grandpa Will says. “Charl and Nikos will move to the farm with the two of you. That way Karen will get the chance to relax a little and maybe even get a job, while Rowan will stay with Alistair.”
“So what about Miranda? She’ll have a fit if she hears I get to be on the farm and she has to go to school.”
“We’re still discussing that,” Dad answers. “Miranda’s already been complaining about being bored there. She needs outside stimulation; friends and sports clubs. We figure it’s better if she comes to that conclusion on her own, so they’ll stay on the farm until Christmas but your mother and I are considering buying Nikos’ house, which will get me a little closer to work and put Miranda near a different school.”
“At least she won’t have to learn a new language. But what about Mariette and Jerome; will you only teach them history?” Kathleen asks Mr Fokker.
“I won’t teach them anything. They’ll find their own answers to their own questions. Like the one that asks why people have wars; can you answer that yourself now, Mariette?”
“Because it’s instinct? It’s about power and survival of the fittest. The males fight over dominance and kill the young of the other males to keep it. That’s why sea cucumbers don’t fight.”
“But then why does attraction happen between people who cannot reproduce?” Jerome asks.
“Because it isn’t just about reproduction. Human beings also have the task of raising their young,” I tell him.
“So do bonobos, so why don’t they fight?” Mr Fokker asks.
“They don’t have intelligence and equality myths, so they don’t have guilt and shame to seek revenge for,” Jerome replies.
“And is this affliction of humanity permanent?”
“Only if we keep telling our babies dog stories,” I answer.
“Are you saying we’re no more than animals and all this talk about knowledge and peace is a fairy tale?” Kathleen asks.
“And schools exist just to make sure that all people believe in them, because people can only see what they already believe,” Jerome tells her.
“I’m beginning to understand what you mean by finding their own answers, but will you give them a holiday so they can come and visit me?” Kathleen asks Mr Fokker.
“I can’t do that either,” he answers. “Because timetables and classrooms don’t exist for people who do their learning in the real world.”