1. Third-person limited omniscience
He walked through the portrait-lined corridor and knocked on the door to his father's study. There was no answer, at first, and Anthony was on the verge of leaving when a voice on the other side said, "Well, come in then." When he went inside his father was at his desk, pen in hand and apparently intensely interested in his work. "Don't know why you bother to knock," said his father, without looking up. "You never used to."
"Well I used to be a child. And we used to talk to each other, sometimes."
The old man said nothing for a while. Anthony wasn't sure if what he'd said had made an impact, if something had finally penetrated, or if his father had decided to ignore him. "Well?" was the eventual response. "Did you only come in here to complain about what's passed?" He sounded agitated, but Anthony couldn't tell if it was because of what he had said.
"I just came in to tell you I'll be leaving soon." His father looked up from his work at last. There was another pause.
"Fine," he said. Then, "I thought you were staying until Wednesday."
"I was, but I really don't see the point in hanging around any longer. I don't think it's good for your blood pressure." It was a joke, but a pained expression seemed to fleet across the old man's face for a moment.
"Least of my worries, Anthony." The usual note of sarcastic triumph was gone.
"What d'you mean?"
"I mean I'm sick, boy. And I'm not going to get better."
2. Third-person omniscient
He walked through the portrait-lined corridor and knocked on the door to his father's study. There was no answer, at first, and Anthony was on the verge of leaving when his father, conflicted and frustrated, called him in. William Astor hadn't written anything for days, and when he was in his study he spent most of his time reading, or pacing around. Before he called his son in, he had sat down and taken out a pen, pretending to be intensely interested in an old phone bill that was lying on his desk. "Don't know why you bother to knock," he said, without looking up. "You never used to."
"Well I used to be a child. And we used to talk to each other, sometimes."
The old man said nothing for a while. Anthony tried to discern the expression on his face. William was wondering if it was a waste of time, telling him. The gulf between seemed so great. "Well? Did you only come in here to complain about what's passed?" was the only response he could manage, though he hated himself as he was saying it. Anthony wondered if his words had made an impact.
"I just came in to tell you I'll be leaving soon." William looked at his son
"Fine," he said. It was all to be for nothing. Then, "I thought you were staying until Wednesday."
"I was, but I really don't see the point in hanging around any longer. I don't think it's good for your blood pressure." It was meant as a joke, but it cut close to where William's mind had been dwelling for so long. He couldn't hide it in his face.
"Least of my worries, Anthony." He didn't like using the name. It had been his wife's choice.
"What d'you mean?"
"I mean I'm sick, boy. And I'm not going to get better."
3. Third-person objective
Decided not to do this one. Couldn't be bothered. It would just be the same as 1. but without access to the son's thoughts.
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