Quick 5-line stories
As a writing excercise, I decided to write some stories related to disbelief. It’s a broad category.
Since my writing tends to be too long for 21st century attention spans, I kept the stories to 5 “lines.” I then added a moral or afterthought. I’m using internet speak deliberately, because it’s how I speak. Enjoy!
Boyhood
> when I was 13, a strong Florida hurricane caused major damage
> people didn’t have electricity or gas for weeks
> my friends and i were happy to miss weeks of school
> while the adults couldn’t drive we had our bicycles
> we spent the days moving debry and making paths to climb
You don’t need electricity to have fun. You need friends and bikes.
My Favorite Memory
> be 18, exhausted, dizzy, limping, mid-Euro backpack with friends
> we are so broke we can only afford 12 hours in Paris before a train out
> meathead friends decide to walk up the Eiffel Tower for sunset
> we vaguely understand they’re making everyone leave the tower
> we hide at the top of a staircase, only to get a great view of someone breaking the world record for longest rollerblade jump
You’re only 18 once. Enjoy it.
Detective
> in college. have a wild house party.
> next morning notice that a painting an ex roomie left is gone
> spy for days and reach out to dozens of strangers to find thief
> get thief’s mom and dad’s number before i confront him
> he comes to return painting and $20 for alcohol he stole.
Sometimes an apology is enough. But $20 is also nice.
PS I really did love that portrait of a sailor with a pipe on textured canvas.
Bad Taste
> went to a fancy cider bar in Dallas
> friends, “you need to try this one!”
> me, “this went bad.”
> bartender tastes it.
> bartender, ‘You’re right. And we just finished the keg. Nobody else noticed before you.’
Alcohol snobbery is weird. It’s like Stockholm Syndrome for poison.
King Chill 1
> traveling around the US in King Chill
> random hippie in Pittsburgh sees it. i invite him in
> he invites me to go camping in Ohio with his friends
> we rendezvous to learn the spot has a biker event
> by 2 am im dancing with hippies and hardcore biker gangs to the Cha Cha Slide
Hippies take you to interesting places. But never trust a hippie.
King Chill 2
> traveling around the US in King Chill
> stop to get gas in BFE, Minnesota
> random girl at gas station asks if i want to meet at the only cafe
> wind up sleeping at cafe for the weekend and hanging out with locals
> unfamiliar Facebook friend gets a notification that I’m nearby and invites me to a conference for KT Syndrome. It was the only time i met people with KT.
If someone offers you to sleep in their diner for the weekend, do it.
