Thar ar-r-r more then two pirates ...but let's pretend we're a bit of the King's English, or better yet, let's just not pretend a'tall. Let's look at what could be, or could've been ...but, most of all, what is.

We often imagine what things would've been like if we were born under different circumstances.

Or if things would've been different if we'd met different people along the way.

We might say, "My life would've been different if I'd met her."

But, though there are countless circumstances we could explore ...more than the ocean is deep or wide, we will only look at two of them here:

One is a child whose dad had come about acquiring a treasure he felt was beyond all treasures ..and set forth to make this one son of his the most esteemed of all pirates.

The other is a son whose dad disappeared on his most recent voyage ...leaving behind his poor wife and only child.

We could call this a tale of two sons, but it seems to be more a tale of two dads. 

Yet, again ...it could be a tale of two me's. We all commonly struggle, though our struggles may not be common.  We each struggle in our own way.  And you could say we all struggle within ourselves ...and are not being quite honest with ourselves if we think we do not.

But, in this story ...why get bogged down with expansive philosophies.  Just accept the fact that the characters here are actually quite different.  Why that is ...is often not known and seldom clear.

It's just the way life is.

And it can't be figured out without much extensive thought ...which most of us are capable of, yet are not quite interested in.

It is my belief that all dads could benefit from understanding that the difference does exist, and it is often helpful to attempt to understand.

A pair of bulls may present you with a dilemma and confusion on which is the safest direction to go.  Yet, much different than a pair of bulls is a parable.  And hopefully we can picture this with no bull at all.  

To define ...let's first assign some names for reference. And to not get too personal, let's use that which was chosen for the author.  The first dad is named Heath, his wife is named Onithe, and their son is named Keith.  And Heath is renown for his riches and for his great love ...though it is often thought that perhaps he equates the two as one.

The second dad in this story is lost at sea ...his name known as Shepherd.  His poor wife is named Abisherd, and their son is affectionately named Shep Junior.  Few knew of the love they shared ...they were just poor, and considered rather incapable of much other than poor feelings.  Many insensitive blokes may laugh or rudely catcall, humoring themselves by hurling any sort of condemnation.  But, though some would call it something else ...most would just ignore these poor souls, considering them too pathetic to even acknowledge.