Judging by the majority of the reviews here, I'm going to chalk up my experience to autism, childhood trauma, and a lack of affection for my parents because I just read an extremely short story about a selfish and ignorant father who, inspite of it being Christmas Eve and his marriage being on the rocks, stayed late on the slopes, drove in dangerous conditions while pontificating about himself and denigrating his son. Yeah, he has a moment or two of brief solipsistic thought about his feelings about his relationship without actually considering his partner or child or list don't to them, but that doesn't mean he actually cares or cares enough not to respect her time and the safety of their son.

Cis men need to be held to a higher standard because this wouldn't read the same or be treated anywhere near the same if this was a character of any other gender or experience. I mean, sure he only thought about himself all day and put him and his son in serious danger, but he really wanted to get back and everything to be OK. What a guy!

Honestly, getting myself a bit worked upwriting this and I can't tell if it's the dad being a total arsehole, reminding me of my crap folks, or getting all in my head about the positive and deep emotional reactions I'm seeing in other reviews.

I seriously thought this was going to end with a horrific accident.

OK. I'm really losing it now. People are saying the message is to live in the moment and not care about the future? That the organised kid (who to me seriously reads as neurodivergent and possibly grasping on to whatever stability he can with his parents splitting up) is finally loosening up and seizing the day? What in the fresh privileged, devil may care, cisheteronormative neurotypical masc hell are we talking about here? Screw your wife and her plans for Christmas Eve. Yours and your son's safety and likelihood of ending up in the back of a squad car, ambulance, or hearse before you get home. Seize the day, baybeeeeeee! EVERYONE! GET UP ON YOUR DESKS!!!

I get the kid idolising the rebellious, read: reckless, father. What's everyone else's excuse?

I'm leaving the review at two, as the prose is great, but I want to give it a one so bad.

(Oof. I am really tired, grumpy, and neurodivergent tonight with that nightmare chronic pain. This must be my most autistic review yet.) ( )