XI Strength | The Absolute Wizard

Cosmo had been a blacksmith his entire life. It never occurred to him to do anything else. His father was a blacksmith, as was his grandfather. That’s just what this family did, and what it would always do. That was Cosmo’s take, anyway.

Imagine Cosmo’s surprise when his son, Trevor, announced at dinner that he planned to forgo the family business and become an accountant.

“An accountant.” Cosmo repeated quietly. “Why?”

“Well Dad, because I am good at math and an absolute wizard with an abacus.” Trevor explained. “Plus, I like working with numbers.”

“Why can’t you be an ‘absolute wizard’ at the blacksmith shop?”

“To be honest, I don’t like to sweat.”

“He doesn’t like to sweat.” Cosmo’s voice cracked. “You hear that, Jeanette?” He said to his wife. “Your bouncing baby boy doesn’t like to sweat.” Cosmos used a singsong, baby talk voice.

“Don’t put this on me, Cosmo. He’s your kid, too.”

“Trevor, let me ask you something.”

“Yes, sir.” Trevor was a little afraid of his father’s tone of voice.

“What do you suppose puts food on the table, clothes on your back, and a roof over your little pin head?”

Trevor opened his mouth to speak, but then his father answered his own question.

Cosmo stood up from the table. “My sweat! The sweat off my brow, that’s what!”

“Yes, sir.”

“But now that’s not good enough for you?”

“It’s not a question of being good enough for me, Dad. Blacksmithing isn’t something I feel I’d be good at.”

“Okay. Cosmo began. “I’m gonna tell you what. Tomorrow, you come to work with me and we gonna see how you like it. All I ask is that you give it a fair shot.”

“What about school?”

“An absolute wizard like you can miss one day.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The shop opens at 5:30am. Be ready to go at 5:00.”

“Dad?” Trevor’s younger sister, Corinne asked. “Can I go too? Please?”

“No, honey. It is not a place for girls.” He gently pinched her cheek.

Cosmo walked away from the table. “I’m going for a couple beers, Jeanette.” He let the screen door slam behind him. He fired up his chariot and blazed down the street.

“That went well.” Trevor was being sarcastic.

“Wonderful!” Jeanette rolled her eyes. “You two help me clear the table, please.”

Five o’clock came awfully early for Trevor, but he was ready and waiting by the chariot at 5:00am.

Cosmo came out the front door. “Let’s go.”

Once at the shop, Cosmo showed his son around and explained as much as he could. Trevor tried to appear interested but his mind kept wandering. This was so not his thing. The shop was dirty, grimy, and hot. He had no clue as to how he was going to get through the day.

Next, Cosmo showed Trevor how to use the sledgehammer and tongs on hot metal.

“Now, you try.” Cosmo handed him the sledgehammer.

Trevor practically dropped it. “It’s heavier than it looks!” Trevor managed a weak smile. Cosmo just shook his head.

Trevor had trouble holding the tongs and pounding the hot metal at the same time. Poor eye hand coordination, it seemed. Plus, that stupid sledgehammer was way too heavy. Trevor admired his dad’s ability to make it all look so easy, but blacksmithing just wasn’t for him.

“Dad? I can’t do this.” Trevor said and handed his dad back the sledgehammer. “I’m wasting your time and my own.”

“You said you gonna give it a fair shot.”

“I did, Dad. I did.” He wiped his hands on an old rag. “I’m sorry, Dad.”

“Okay.” Cosmo swung the sledgehammer. “If you say so.”

Trevor stood around for a minute and then left. At least it was a pleasant day for the walk home.

Right before lunch, Cosmo had another visitor. His daughter, Corrine slipped in the door. She had two small bags with her. “You guys forgot your lunches.”

“Thank you, honey. We only need one. Your brother went home. Malaka!“

This was her big chance. “Can I eat lunch with you?”

“Why aren’t you in school?”

“I missed the chariot. Mom said I could stay home.”

“Okay then. Sure! You sit right there, and we eat lunch together.” Cosmos smiled.

Over lunch, Corrine asked about the different tools and what things were for. She asked her father how to do this and that and to please show her.

“Why you so interested, Corrine? You’re a beautiful girl. Don’t you want to be with your girlfriends or something?”

She took a deep breath and replied. “No, I want to be a blacksmith, like you.”

“You what? But you’re a girl!”

“Girls can do anything boys can do. I can learn a skill just like any guy can. I might not be as strong yet, but I will be. Just let me try. Please.”

Cosmo fought back the tears. “C’mere.”

Corrine walked over to her father, who wrapped in the biggest hug ever. She didn’t care about the sweat and grime. “You’re right, honey. You can do anything. Anything you want.”

They both stepped back and wiped their eyes, laughing.

“Okay,” Cosmos began. “First I gonna show you around the place. Then we try to make something.”