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" The father is taken aback. What he usually says, in such a confrontation, is ‘I changed your diapers for you, little snot.’ This is not the right thing to say. First, it is not true (mothers change nine diapers out of ten), and second, it instantly reminds Sam II of what he is mad about. He is mad about being small when you were big, but not, that’s not it, he is mad about being helpless when you were powerful, but no, not that either, he is mad about being contingent when you were necessary, not quite it, he is insane because when he loved you, you didn’t notice. "

Donald Barthelme , The Dead Father


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Donald Barthelme quote : The father is taken aback. What he usually says, in such a confrontation, is ‘I changed your diapers for you, little snot.’ This is not the right thing to say. First, it is not true (mothers change nine diapers out of ten), and second, it instantly reminds Sam II of what he is mad about. He is mad about being small when you were big, but not, that’s not it, he is mad about being helpless when you were powerful, but no, not that either, he is mad about being contingent when you were necessary, not quite it, he is insane because when he loved you, you didn’t notice.