The Narrator’s Search for Calm

This flow traces the different practices Joachim(Jocki) uses to manage restlessness, from sound and movement to films and storytelling.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Restlessness at School

Restlessness at School A Body in Motion Joachim(Jocki) cannot sit still, forgets lessons quickly, and struggles with reading and writing. His mind feels like a space without shelves where information cannot stay. Misfit with Instruction School demands stillness and recall, while his attention wanders toward images and associations. The mismatch contributes to frustration and repeated anger.

The Washing-Machine Song

The Washing-Machine Song A Physical Rhythm His mother places him on the running washing machine when he is overwhelmed. He sings an improvised story about a fox and a goose as the vibration moves beneath him. Returning to Himself The song slows with the machine’s cycles. It gives the boy a way to descend from anger without requiring him to explain what caused it.

The Film’s Quiet

The Film’s Quiet A Rare Focus Joachim(Jocki) becomes still while watching films. The screen gathers his attention in a way schoolwork cannot, though he must leave before the movie ends. Conflict at Bedtime The nine o’clock rule repeatedly turns pleasure into negotiation and rage. His divided attention lets him continue watching even while his body erupts.

A Secret Morning Screening

A Secret Morning Screening Invented Illness Joachim(Jocki) pretends to be unwell so he can stay home and watch a repeat broadcast. He uses a warming cream to produce convincing red marks. Imaginative Repetition Afterward he replays scenes in his mind while resting. A film becomes an inner refuge that he can revisit without the television.

A Breath of Freedom

A Breath of Freedom Independent Movement Joachim(Jocki) drives alone toward the sea, choosing his own music and route. The car offers a new kind of quiet independence from the crowded home. Uneasy Freedom His first excursions bring happiness, but do not resolve his anger or family tensions. Calm becomes a temporary experience rather than a permanent state.

During the primary-school years

During childhood outbursts

During evenings with the nine o’clock bedtime

On the morning after The Seaman and the Nun airs

After getting his driving license