Month 9 — The Starling and the Cherry Tree

This month I experimented with many things, some of which are going into next month’s installment. But the most surprising success was this story. You can read it here. It was the last experiment, done in one afternoon. Now I don’t know what to think.

For the past year I haven’t been able to write for very long. My brain slumps off after a few words. Late in the month I sat down to write as another experiment, and drafted and edited this short two-page story in one afternoon. I decided not to touch it after that.

What is it like, to have your abilities come and go? It’s like someone playing peek-a-boo with Superman and kryptonite. It’s like this:

Nemesis lifts the lid of a box containing kryptonite, Superman’s only weakness: Superman recoils in horror. ‘Aw man,’ Nemesis laughs, ‘look at your face! Look how weak you are!’ Closes box: ‘I’m joking, I’ll put it away.’ Opens box: ‘Ha ha, tricked you!’ Closes box: ‘No no, just kidding, I’m putting it away for real this time.’ Opens lid up wide: ‘Psych!’ 

Superman, gathering all his remaining strength, slaps Nemesis across the face.

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