LAMENTATIONS OF THE FATHER
by Ian Frazier
Household Principles for Children from the Old Testament
Laws of Forbidden Places
Of the beasts of the field, and of the
fishes of the sea, and of all foods that are acceptable in my sight
you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the hoofed animals,
broiled or ground into burgers, you may eat, but not in the living
room. Of the cloven-hoofed animal, plain or with cheese, you may
eat, but not in the living room. Of the cereal grains, of the corn
and of the wheat and of the oats, and of all the cereals that are of
bright color and unknown provenance you may eat, but not in the
living room. Of quiescently frozen dessert and of all frozen
after-meal treats you may eat, but absolutely not in the living room.
Of the juices and other beverages, yes, even of those in sippy-cups,
you may drink, but not in the living room, neither may you carry
such therein. Indeed, when you reach the place where the living room
carpet begins, of any food or beverage there you may not eat,
neither may you drink. But if you are sick, and are lying down and
watching something, then may you eat in the living room.
Laws When at Table
And if you are seated in your high chair, or in a chair such as a
greater person might use, keep your legs and feet below you as they
were. Neither raise up your knees, nor place your feet upon the
table, for that is an abomination to me. Yes, even when you have an
interesting bandage to show, your feet upon the table are an
abomination, and worthy of rebuke.
Drink your milk as it is given you, neither use on it any utensils,
nor fork, nor knife, nor spoon, for that is not what they are for;
if you will dip your blocks in the milk, and lick it off, you will be
sent away.
When you have drunk, let the empty cup then remain upon the table,
and do not bite it upon its edge and by your teeth hold it to your
face in order to make noises in it sounding like a duck: for you
will be sent away.
When you chew your food, keep your mouth closed until you have
swallowed, and do not open it to show your brother or your sister
what is within; I say to you, do not so, even if your brother or your
sister has done the same to you.
Eat your food only; do not eat that which is not food; neither seize
the table between your jaws, nor use the raiment of the table to wipe
your lips. I say again to you, do not touch it, but leave it as it is.
And though your stick of carrot does indeed resemble a marker, draw
not with it upon the table, even in pretend, for we do not do that,
that is why. And though the pieces of broccoli are very like small
trees, do not stand them upright to make a forest, because we do not
do that,that is why.
Sit just as I have told you, and do not lean to one side or the
other, nor slide down until you are nearly slid away. Heed me; for
if you sit like that, your hair will go into the syrup. And now
behold, even as I have said, it has come to pass.
Laws Pertaining to Dessert
For we judge between the plate that is unclean and the plate that is
clean, saying first, if the plate is clean, then you shall have
dessert.
But of the unclean plate, the laws are these: If you have eaten
most of your meat, and two bites of your peas with each bite
consisting of not less than three peas each, or in total six peas,
eaten where I can see, and you have also eaten enough of your
potatoes to fill two forks, both forkfuls eaten where I can see, then
you shall have dessert.
But if you eat a lesser number of peas, and yet you eat the
potatoes, still you shall not have dessert; and if you eat the peas,
yet leave the potatoes uneaten, you shall not have dessert, no, not
even a small portion thereof.
And if you try to deceive by moving the potatoes or peas around with
a fork, that it may appear you have eaten what you have not, you
will fall into iniquity. And I will know, and you shall have no
dessert.
On Screaming
Do not scream; for it is as if you scream all the time. If you are
given a plate on which two foods you do not wish to touch each other
are touching each other, your voice rises up even to the ceiling,
while you point to the offense with the finger of your right hand;
but I say to you, scream not, only remonstrate gently with the
server, that the server may correct the fault.
Likewise if you receive a portion of fish from which every piece of
herbal seasoning has not been scraped off, and the herbal seasoning
is loathsome to you and steeped in vileness, again I say, refrain
from screaming. Though the vileness overwhelm you, and cause you a
faint unto death, make not that sound from within your throat,
neither cover your face, nor press your fingers to your nose. For
even I have made the fish as it should be; behold, I eat it myself,
yet do not die.
Concerning Face and Hands
Cast your countenance upward to the light, and lift your eyes to the
hills, that I may more easily wash you off. For the stains are upon
you; even to the very back of your head, there is rice thereon.
And in the breast pocket of your garment, and upon the tie of your
shoe, rice and other fragments are distributed in a manner wonderful
to see.
Only hold yourself still; hold still, I say. Give each finger in
its turn for my examination thereof, and also each thumb. Lo, how
iniquitous they appear. What I do is as it must be; and you shall
not go hence until I have done.
Various Other Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances
Bite not, lest you be cast into quiet time. Neither drink of your
own bath water, nor of the bath water of any kind; nor rub your feet
on bread, even if it be in the package; nor rub yourself against
cars, not against any building; nor eat sand.
Leave the cat alone, for what has the cat done, that you should so
afflict it with tape? And hum not the humming in your nose as I
read, nor stand between the light and the book. Indeed, you will
drive me to madness. Nor forget what I said about the tape.
Thus endeth the lesson. ;-) Hope you had fun.
This page last updated 5 May 1998