What if?

the story might divert at various junctions; all are unsatisfactory outcomes; none teach us truth about God

Spending

Boy asked for his inheritance, and father agreed. The boy took the money and spent most of it in wild living, but was robbed at knifepoint for the rest. The robber stabbed the boy and he bled to death on a pavement in the seedier part of Dissipation City. The father never heard about this, and kept watch everyday for several years.

Famine-fodder

Boy took his inheritance and spent it all in wild living in Dissipation City. But famine struck and the boy died as a result.

More wealth than we imagine

Boy took his inheritance and spent it all in excessive, wild living, dining out, gambling, sexual impropriety and drunkenness. There was so much wealth that he managed to survive for 38 years before the cash was all gone; unfortunately this coincided with a famine. The boy worked on a pig farm untl he came to his senses and went home to be an hired hand, as he was no longer worthy to be called a son. But when he got home, he discovered his father had been dead for several years and the farmland had been redeveloped into a village. There was no job for him, no forgiveness, no gifts, no hugs, no celebrations, no resolution. He moved on, but died later the same year, a broken man, exhausted with partying; now penniless and alone.

Victim of Pod

Boy took his inheritance and spent it all in wild living until the famine struck. He took a job tending pigs, and longed to eat their food. He did so, got food poisoning, and died.

Forgot Heritage

Boy took his inheritance and spent it all. He refrained from eating the pigs’ food. But he came to his senses, became a Gentile and lived on pig pods until the famine was over. Then he settled down in Dissipation City.

Makes it a career move

Boy spent his inheritance. He longed to eat pigs’ food but came to his senses and took a better job at a government-run food distribution centre. He went on to manage the food centre until the famine was over, and then established a chain of fast-food outlets called Pod U Like, serving gammon ham with mange tout in pitta breads. He never returned.

Rejected

Boy spent all, came to his senses and went home. Father had bolted the gate, and told son since he had chosen to leave, he must fend for himself. He took a job on another farm, but always regretted his foolish, selfish youth.

Not Restored

Boy spent cash, came to senses and humbled himself. Father was pleased the boy was still alive and gave him a job on the farm, feeding the calf, as a hired man. They didn’t get on, and after a while the son took another job elsewhere.

Asserted Sonship

Boy wasted cash and had a revelation. He knew his father would have to take him back, since he was, after all, his son. His father did, of course, because he felt he had to do so, and the son was treated as a member of the family once again. But there was always resentment, guilt and fear between them, and neither was very happy.