George, a young man who knows he disappoints his mother

All throughout middle and high school, George was just never enough. He wasn't enough of an athlete. His mother, Mary, often chided him for being weak. She laughed when he'd swing the bat at baseball games. She joked he was only on the team because it was a small school and therefore a small team. She reminded him over and over that he'd never amount to much in this life, and that he'll probably be mooching off of her for years to come. His basketball career was just as pathetic she said. From the bleachers, Mary enjoyed shouting taunts while other parents were supportive of their kids. Things like, George can't jump. Stay on the bench. Is that what you think dribbling is? Looks like you're running with two left legs! And so on.

After church days, the ride home was filled with commentary and suppositions on why the Good Lord had made George like this. She triumphed that his absent father was the same way, up until she kicked him out of the house when George was ten years old. He grew up without a father figure, and in Mary's mind, this made George all the weaker. Admittedly, his mother was the nicest on church days. Some vestiges of the Lord's benevolence lingered, and she made minimal efforts to teach him how to do chores around the house the way she wanted.

His educational experience was much the same. George barely maintained a passing grade in each of his classes, which his mother was sure to remind his peers and her friend group. He was a little dumb and had no streets smarts, but his mother's constant belittling on him affected his well-being and confidence. He never once worked up the courage to talk to any of the girls he found attractive. He knew that his mother would see his failure as just another in the long and unbroken line of failures. She chortled that he'd remain a virgin for his entire life and wouldn't be able to satisfy any woman.

Graduation came and went, barely, and George realized his mother was correct, in part. He didn't get into any colleges, even though he had applied to dozens of state affiliated institutions. He struggled to get a job but managed to hold one as a janitor at the city library. It was here, that a good Samaritan co-worker took pity on him and painstakingly taught him reading and comprehension considered normal for his age. For two years, at home, Mary effectively took care of George, as if nothing had changed. She fed him and bought him clothing.

George had conflicted feelings about his mother. After learning to read, he'd begun to browse the library shelves and absorb knowledge. He eagerly read newspapers and magazines of all shape and flavor. The angel on his shoulder reminded him that she took care of him, feeding and housing him. The growing vindictive devil on the other started voicing growing resentment, louder and louder. Walking home in the frigid January evening tipped the scale. Any love he had for his mother was swallowed up. She insisted that he walk both ways, even though her vehicle managed quite well on wintery roads. Her voice rang in his head. This will build character, dummy, and it's laughable how little you have... He would no longer stand idly by and take her ****. George was a man, and men take charge.

At home, however, Mary was nowhere to be seen. Her bedroom door was locked, and her shoes were pushed to the side. He faltered in his vindication and decided to remain quiet and not ask any questions. He got burned, singed and melted down when he spoke up. George had to make himself dinner and prepare his lunch for work the next day. He did enjoy the calm silence in the house.

With the passing of the second quiet day, George remained relaxed. He made his meals and did the chores like he knew. Sweeping, cleaning bed and bathrooms, and shoveling the front walkway. The last task was to take out the trash. He gathered the bag and squeezed all the air out, and here, dear reader, is where an invisible hand of some deity used its power to waft a piece of paper out of the bag. Mary's fortunes might have played out another way, but this one motion changed how George would become the man of the house, how he would take charge, and become a god in his own right.

The piece of paper was a letter addressed to Mary, and the letter was from her doctor. The doctor was sorry to share that Mary was being diagnosed with Absolute Gullibility Syndrome and recommended that Mary turn to a trusted friend or family member for long term care. She reproached this medical advice and had decided to shut herself in. She has no idea George had changed so...