The world can be a harsh teacher, its lessons etched in fear and coercion. Sometimes, “flying” isn’t about soaring above the clouds, but about learning to navigate the treacherous winds of manipulation and self-preservation. This is the story of a boy named Daniel, and how he learned to fly by making something disappear – a gun, a memory, and ultimately, the truth.
Cliff Davis, in a chilling monologue, schools young Daniel on the difference between reality and what he wants him to believe. He begins by repeatedly questioning Daniel about what he saw – a gun. With each answer, Cliff reinforces the desired response, pushing Daniel to recant his initial observation. This interaction underscores the core lesson: survival depends on adapting to the powerful figure’s whims. The gun, a tangible object representing truth, becomes a malleable element in Cliff’s narrative.
Cliff’s lesson extends beyond mere denial. He draws a parallel between physical confrontation and the subtle art of knowing when to “stand down, look away, shut your mouth.” He equates self-preservation with the ability to distort reality, blurring the lines between right and wrong. This manipulation preys on Daniel’s desire for safety and his inherent understanding of power dynamics. He emphasizes the importance of adhering to “what’s actually real,” ironically while forcing Daniel to deny the reality of the gun.
The climax of the lesson arrives when Cliff forces Daniel to close his eyes and then asks him what he sees. The answer, “nothing,” signifies Daniel’s internalization of the lesson. He’s learned to make the inconvenient truth vanish, not just from sight, but from memory. The gun, now a “big piece of nothing,” represents the weight of the lie Daniel must carry to survive. This chilling metaphor depicts the burden of forced silence and the distortion of reality.
Cliff’s final command, “Help me carry that big piece of nothing outside,” solidifies Daniel’s forced complicity in the deception. This act cements the boy’s understanding of his new reality: obedience and silence ensure survival. He has learned to fly, not by escaping the situation, but by becoming invisible within it, by erasing the truth and embracing the fabricated narrative. Daniel’s flight is a tragic one, a descent into a world where reality is dictated by fear and the will of those in power. His silence is the price of his survival, a testament to the devastating consequences of manipulation and the enduring strength of a child forced to adapt to a distorted world.
