A Brief Conversation With a Former Enemy

"Hey"
"Hey."
"It's been a while."
"Yeah."
Awkward pause.
"Look, I realize I was the biggest ass in the world for the better part of the past year, but that, I truly hope, is behind us now, and I would like nothing better than to figure out exactly where we stand and move on."
"Agreed.....on one condition."
"What's that?"
"Listen to me."
I looked at him for a long moment. "I will on one condition."
He blinked at me and I could clearly see the amusement in his eyes. "And that is?"
"Talk to me."
He slowly sat down next to me and scratched his head. The light above and behind us shone through his hand and cast the small outlline of a jagged hole on th leg of my shorts. I though of making some crack about him not bothering to lie because I could see right through him, but I didin't think this was really the time.
"What do you think I've been doing all this time?"
"I know, I know. I'm sure you've been telling me everything I needed, I just--"
"Refused to return my calls."
I rasied my hand in a vain gesture of self defense. "I didn't realize that I was getting any calls."
"Then you must simply check your message board more often."
After a moment I slumped in defeat. "Show me?"
He turned to look at me. "I think I can do that."
Another awkward pause.
"May I ask you a question?"
"Well, whatever it is you obviously already know the answer, but go ahead."
"Why the change of heart?"
I thought for a moment, choosing my words carefully. "To say that I was tired of figthting would be untrue--the more I fought, the more I wanted to fight. But I was fighting on three fronts--you, me, and time. I was tired of losing. Given what I had gotten into and my financial situation for next year, I knew there was a lot more fighting ahead. I knew I couldn't fight alone; not while fighting you."
"So you figured you would make the wisest political move that you could and make you biggest enemy your biggest ally."
"I guess you could say that, but there was more to it than that. Believe it or not, as angry as I was at you and as much as I cursed you, I missed you. Despite the drama and poetic inspiration as our battles provided, I didn't want to tfight you anymore."
"So you called me to set up a final peace treaty."
I nodded. "And you came. Again." I watched him out of the corner of my eye. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"Why did you agree to meet me again after the disaster of the first meeting?"
"I was just as eager to end the war as you were. Do you think I like to fight with my children?"
We sat in silence for a few moments.
"You do realize, of course, what story this is?"
I nodded, trying in vain to keep my composure and not cry.
"The 'Prodigal Son' has always been one of my favorites."
"Mine too," I said.