Art Explained By A Writer: The Fratricide (1897)

The phone rings.

A call from...

Damn son how come you're always in trouble? Get your arse overhere!

Stop pulling such an angry face! It's your own fault. I've told you at least a hundred times to watch your step. You have a very short fuse and are easily offended. I don't understand how you managed to pass that entrance exam. There was no psychological test, was there? Stop seeing the bad in everything. You're a worthless jerk. You ruined my day.
Because of your behaviour, I lost at least 30 pounds, and there will be hell to pay when I wake up and my hair has turned grey overnight because of the misery you keep surprising me with. Let me make you clear that if your good father hadn't died in prison, he would have made you meet his belt.
Stay there. I'm not finished. I'll have a couple of cups of tea and figure out how to solve this.
The garden is already full of corpses, and there's no room for another. The neighbour's dog is rooting around. I don't feel like digging up old corpses to get him off my back.

OK, just put on Henkie's jacket. If you loosen your hair, look a bit friendlier, and change your attitude... Stand up straight; you're not a sack of potatoes!

She gives the miserable son a slap on his head, which makes his ears ring.

Solved. From now on, you are Henkie and in the army or with Aunt Annie in Maastricht in that country covered with frogs. Nobody needs to know anything and behave because your killer instinct is no fun to live with. Take the extra vest, a pair of socks and a sandwich and get out. A car waits on the corner of Brotherhood Street to take you to the haven. Keep your head down, don't look anyone in the eyes and keep those gloves on. Stop picking your nose. Haven't you heard what I said? I'll take care of Henkie, I mean of you, since you are Henkie. Dismissed.

She pushes the murderer out and slides the latch on the door so he can't get back inside. Out of sight, out of mind.

A shot sounds, followed by a dull thud. The perennial dilemma is solved. Both Henkies are dead. Relieved, she slides the bolt off the door and goes to bed. When the police arrive, it is early enough to tell her side of the story.

_{12.3.25
Painting: Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Painting: The Fratricide (1897) - public domain
Prompt a call from provided by @freewritehouse}