I really have no idea what will become of that boy!
He’s my only nephew and I expected great things of him. He could become a lawyer, or the secretary of some VIP, or even go into politics!
But what does he do? Nothing! At school, Marcus barely learned to read… and what’s more, he blushes when he has to speak in public. I think he should join the army: our legions are always looking for healthy strong young men!
Last time he came, I took him to the schola armaturarum, the headquarters of my military group in Pompeii. We have lots of boys from very good families. We senior members talk to them about great battles and the generals who made Roman history: things you can never study enough at school, I say!
To make the right mood, the cupboards and shelves on the walls are loaded with weapons and trophies. And after the discussion, we all have lunch together with traditional Roman food. We have plenty of oil, wine and fish sauce from all over the empire! We also usually invite a guest of honour: a veteran, sometimes an ex-gladiator….
That’s what young Romans need, not hot tubs and massages at the thermal baths, shows with little actresses and getting drunk on cheap wine in clubs!
But sadly it’s not going well. Marcus doesn’t want to come to school with me any more. Today he says he has a headache, yesterday it was a sprained ankle, tomorrow it will be a stiff neck….
Poor Rome! What are young people like eh?