Book 20

I went to sleep last night to the sound of my own maids laughing, and heading for the suitor's bedroom. How could they turn on me like that? I just wanted to burst from my bed and strangle them all. However, I did not do this. Instead Athena calmed me by giving one of her famous pep talks. I just loving falling asleep to the thoughts of slaughtering my enemies. When I awoke to Penelope's sobs, I leaped from bed. From there I went outside. I asked Zeus to show me a sign that I was following his heading, and that he was with me. Suddenly a lighting bolt crashed from the cloudless sky. It was awesome, and I knew Zeus was listening to me. One of my own handmills agreed with me. A while later, the swineherd had arrived at the palace for the suitor's feast. I met Philoitios, a cattle herder, who misses Odysseus like everyone else. I assured him that Odysseus shall return. We talked a bit more, and then joined the feast. Then, of course, the suitors started their usual "let's pick on the homeless guy" routine. Telemakhos ignored their foul words until one new addition to the suitor gang threw a cow foot at us. How lame is that?! I just wanted to shove that cow foot up his posterior, if you know what I mean. But I did not. Over these past days, I have learned one important lesson that even surprises me now: Although keeping emotions inside can be harmful to a man, in some circumstances it can be the best possible choice out there. After the cow foot incident, Telemakhos blew a fuse. I never knew what a man he has become. He no longer feared the suitors, but instead stood up for what he believed in. I am only sorry to miss him growing up. It was silent for a while, until the suitors started to talk again. However the visionary Theoklymenos grabbed my attention. He said the suitors were surrounded by darkness so that they cannot see the truth of what is really going on around them. They do not see my plot, or how their presence plagues the country. To this they only laugh and kick the visionary out. At the meal, and even now, I prepare for the slaughter of the suitors. Till that day.