fandomhigh | Ethics [Tuesday, November 25]

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ethics

Ethics [Tuesday, November 25]

Today the desks in Anakin's classroom had been pushed along the walls and replaced with cushy pillows and blankets. There was a giant table in the front of the room creaking with the weight of Thanksgiving treats. Fear not--it was all ordered in. Anakin wasn't a fan of ovens.

"Today we talk about sloth," Anakin said, holding himself even more carefully and clearly uncomfortable with the very idea of relaxing. The students were certainly not expected to be held to the same standard. "Originally, sloth was described as 'an uneasiness of the mind'," Anakin continued. "Apathy. Melancholy. Joylessness. And importantly, the decision not to do anything about it."

He shrugged. "The modern view understands that the mind is slightly more complicated than that and sometimes it is impossible to will yourself not to be sad. Instead, this sin focuses on the failure to utilize your talents and gifts."

He gestured at the table. "This Thursday, there is a holiday celebrating sloth--or at least the lethargy that comes from overeating. Millions of people in this country will spend time ignoring their relatives and watching football. It's a national holiday." He shrugged again. "I don't pretend to understand it."

He lit his lightsaber and began slicing the turkey, mostly because he would never, ever, ever get away with that at the Thanksgiving he'd be going to. "So today, embrace your inner sloth and eat until you're ready to take a nap. But first find a fellow student, tell them one of your talents--and no one is allowed to cop out and say they don't have one--and how you use it here at school."

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"It compares fine," he said. "I can't play the piano. I can't play any kind of instrument."

She smiled. "I'm in music club and I love it. I've only ever just played for my family, so it's nice to get to share it." A beat. "Do you have a plane here you get to fly?"

"Nah, nothing here," he said. "I've used the sim on a few occasions but I don't have enough money or anything to get one of my own here."

"Oh, I see," she nodded. "Is the sim very comparable to the real thing?"

"It's not bad," he said thoughtfully. "I mean, it's obvious that it's not real but it's good in a pinch and it's better than nothing."

"I like your talent, Lee. Now that I know it, you definitely look like a pilot."

He laughed and said, "Thanks. You don't look like a piano player but I've only known one of those."

Penelope laughed and ducked her head somewhat. "Someday, maybe I'll have the opportunity to play for you. I just can't really tote around a piano."

She was a dork sometimes.

"Yeah, I bet that'd be hell on your back," he agreed with a laugh. "I can't carry around a sim either so I know the feeling."

Lee was cute, Penelope decided.

"Do you think a talent and a gift, are the same thing?"

"I don't know if I've ever thought about it in those terms," he admitted. "I think they could be the same thing though talent brings to mind something you practice more at than a gift. Gift sounds naturally occurring."

It's what she thought too. "Do you have a gift?"

"Nah," he said. "I'm just normal. Nothing special."

"I bet that's not true to people who know you," she said quietly.

"Maybe but I don't really mind being just normal," he said and shrugged. "I've felt that way most of my life."

Penelope envied him that. She's always wanted to feel completely and wholesomely normal. It would sound silly if she told him she thought that might be his gift, so she just smiled and nodded, pushing her turkey around on her plate.

"You all right?" Lee asked quietly.

"I'm fine, thank you," she replied. "Normal just makes me wish for it."

"You seem pretty normal to me," he pointed out.

Penelope tried to meet his eyes, judging the truth behind his words. "Thanks, Lee, but it's okay if you think differently. I'm used to people running away from me."

"I don't," he said and shrugged. "I don't care what you look like. People are from different places. I'm not going to run away."

"Thank you for that; it's appreciated. Most people here feel the same way you do. It's only a problem at home, but since I'm here, I shouldn't think about it."

"This place is a little different than most places," he said and smiled. "That's why I'm hesitant to even think about leaving."

Penelope grinned. "When my time is up here, I'm think I will feel just as you do. Are you going back home?"

"Good question," he said and poked at his turkey. "I don't want to. There are...things that make me want to stay here."

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