DON'T CRY OUT LOUD

Oh, shut up.

Your incessant whining is driving me BATTY!

Why can't you just suck it up

and take it like a man?

What must I do to train you

to prepare you

for the harsh realities

of this cruel world?

How can I make you understand

that your tears are not manly

are not mature

are not acceptable.

You must learn to be brave.

You must learn to be strong.

You must learn to be cruel

and, my son,

you must learn all this,

it seems,

in the next twelve days

- by your twelfth birthday.