{"seoTitle":"Questions for Daddy | A Tender Father-Son Dialogue About Life","seoDescription":"A small son asks his father which path to follow — mind, body, or soul. A short story about curiosity, mischief, and the wisdom of asking questions.","keywords":"short story, father son, dialogue, mind body soul, curiosity, parenting, wisdom, parable, family","content":{"p1":"\"Daddy, Daddy!\"","p2":"\"Yes, son.\"","p3":"\"What should I do?\"","p4":"\"What do you mean, son?\"","p5":"\"With my life, Daddy.\"","p6":"\"Well, you are still very young. You have lots of time to decide.\"","p7":"\"No, Daddy. I mean, which path should I focus on? Mind, body, or soul?\"","p8":"\"That's a really big question, son.\"","p9":"\"The mind. The ego. What people think of me. Being popular. Fitting in, Daddy.","p10":"The body. Eating lots of ice cream. Getting kisses.\"","p11":"He giggles.","p12":"\"Like you and Mommy.","p13":"Or the soul. What is the soul, Daddy?\"","p14":"\"Son, these questions are out of my league.","p15":"But the mind is more than just selfish ego.\"","p16":"The father stares at his son.","p17":"\"Are you trying to get yourself out of school?\"","p18":"The son smiles mischievously.","p19":"\"And the body is more than kisses and ice cream, though I love those.","p20":"How about sports? Fitness?","p21":"Son, are you telling me you don't want to eat collard greens anymore?\"","p22":"The son smiles mischievously again.","p23":"\"Now the soul…","p24":"That's about all that might be left of us.","p25":"Good deeds. Prayers.","p26":"Those are worthy, son.","p27":"Are you trying to get out of prayer?\"","p28":"The son smiles mischievously.","p29":"\"Did that answer your question, son?\"","p30":"\"Yes, Daddy.","p31":"But I have a lot more.\"","p32":"\"Wait, son.","p33":"Let me brew a pot of tea.","p34":"Let's go out into the garden.","p35":"I'll do my best.","p36":"Perhaps the best answer is a question, son.","p37":"Whatever you do,","p38":"keep asking them.\""}}