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| >> Static Item >> Short Story >> Contest Entry >> ID #1607843 |   |
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An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself. ~Charles Dickens Childish laughter echoed against the bare white walls. Flashes of green, then blue, then red light blinded the tall man standing in the center of the room. Frowning, he covered his grey eyes against the bright light. His whiskered mouth twitched before he spoke. “You stop this right now! It’s time, and you know it!” Giggling was the only response he got as the intensity of the flashing lights increased. Knowing there was no arguing with it once it entered play mode, he sighed and dropped into the oversized armchair that appeared behind him, rumpling his pressed grey suit. Resting his balding head against the back, he reached down and pulled the lever to raise the foot rest and lean the chair back. It lifted up his long legs into a very comfortable position and stretched out his spine. He closed his eyes, prepared to wait out the coming storm. The colored lights stopped and he cracked one eye open. Soft white light illuminated the room as usual. Out of nowhere and everywhere, bubbles of all shapes and sizes floated around the room. A particularly large teddy bear zoomed right at him. He closed his eyes as the bubble popped on his elongated nose, covering him in soapy wetness. “Not having a good morning, are ya, Be?” a deep voice boomed in his ears. His eyes flashed opened and stared up at the chubby face of his coworker, his only source of sanity in their eons-long position as glorified delivery boys. He smiled weakly. “You could say that, Ay.” Ay glanced around, beads of sweat running down his face. “Don’t think you could convince it to turn the heat down.” Be bit his lip, not feeling warm at all, but not wanting to hurt Ay’s feelings. “It doesn’t seem to be paying any attention to me today. What about yours? Did you get it to go down to earth yet?” “Ha!” Ay snorted as he wiped his sweaty palms down his rumpled grey suit. “Not bloody likely. The little bugger is giving me the silent treatment. Well, I guess that’s its nature!” He chortled, his rotund body wiggling like jelly. “I don’t get none of this fancy fun stuff you got.” “Hmm,” Be smiled, not feeling so bad about his situation. “I’d trade you if I could, but we have our assignments. I get light-hearted idea deliveries and you get dark-hearted idea deliveries.” Ay grunted, “Yeah, and both of our deliveries are due in a few hours. A week used to be long enough to get these little buggers acclimated and they’d be screaming to be released into the world. Hmm, think we need to write an action memo to the bosses about changing policy?” Be furrowed his brow as he thought it over. The ideas were getting more sophisticated as the world progressed forward. Maybe they did need more time. “I can draft something up once I get Innocent Fun on its way.” “Get yer thinking cap on! We need to show them that we’re good workers and deserve a promotion!” Ay’s eyes glinted as he rubbed his hands together. “I don’t know how much more of Silent Treatment I can handle, or any of these other dark ideas. Wouldn’t it be nice to get a cushy job monitoring? Yeah, I’d like to sit on my butt all day watching a tropical island somewhere with lots of hot babes.” Drops of drool trickled out of the corner of Ay’s mouth. He absently wiped them away as he gazed down at Be. “Of course we’d have to not fail again. We got a warning last time. Remind me again what’ll happen if we don’t complete our deliveries on time?” “We’ll get demoted for a while, like a few centuries, and have to take care of the slimy ones.” Be crinkled his face in disgust. “They want to go down to earth, but need help getting there. I hate slime. Bad enough I got covered in soap. Ugh, I can’t wait to take a shower and get clean again.” “At least you’re halfway there. All you need is water!” Ay guffawed as he clutched his rounded belly. Be rolled his eyes, but couldn’t prevent a smile from creeping across his face. As Ay’s laughter died away, he pulled up his sagging grey slacks and strode off. “Well, better get back to mine. Good luck, buddy.” Be called after Ay, “You too. We’re going to need it.” Ay snorted as he walked through the wall. “Damn straight.” Silence once again filled the room as the bubbles slowly faded away. Be relaxed in the chair, waiting for the next surprise. Moments passed as Be’s breathing slowed. He was exhausted from the continuous days of high-strung fun and excitement. He had played with it for the first two days, but just didn’t have the energy that he used to. Then again, he had always balanced his living life between play and work. His reward in the after-life was this, sitting in a white room ushering ideas into the world when needed. Whatever did he do to deserve this? As his mind wandered, he started to drift off to sleep, his eyes finally closing. “HA!” It appeared on Be’s lap suddenly, startling him awake. Be gasped as he stared at the round ball of light that sparkled like glitter. He had never seen one take this form before; it was sort of pretty. Like one of the baubles he had given his eldest daughter when she was young. It rolled weightlessly up and down Be’s legs. “WHEEEE!” Be calmed his breathing, clearing his thoughts to focus on the task at hand. “I’m glad to finally see you. Maybe now you’d like to go?” “NO!” It continued its rollercoaster ride on Be; now rolling up over his face and balancing on his head. “Why not?” Be shifted his eyes upward, but could not see it teetering on his head. He could barely feel it, like a faint tickling sensation. “SCARY!” it cried as it rolled down all the way to Be’s feet and balanced on the tips of his grey shoes. “I know.” Be’s face softened. “I remember what it’s like out there.” Yes, he remembered an ancient world just as scary as the modern version. “STAY!” A glittery face appeared on the side of the ball and gazed at Be. “I wish you could, but the world needs you.” Be held out his hand, beckoning it to him. The face scowled. “WHY?” “Why do you think?” It blinked several times, looked up at the ceiling then back at Be. “FUN?” “Yes, because you are fun. You are innocence. The world needs you so it can be a better place. You can make the world not so scary.” Be watched as its eyes opened wide and its mouth formed an O-shape. “HAPPINESS.” It stared into Be’s eyes. Be nodded as he offered his hand again. It hesitated, but finally rolled up onto Be’s hand. “SAFE?” Be looked away, not wanting to show it the pain in his eyes. “I don’t know. You--You’re not the first of your kind to go down there.” He looked back at the glittery eyes. Though he tried to look hopeful, Be knew in his heart that it would take a miracle for the world to change. “Maybe you will be the last?” It closed its eyes for a moment then opened them. Mouth firmly set, it said, “YES.” Be smiled as he blew gently on the ball. It giggled in response and, as it floated down through the floor, it laughed like the tinkling of a thousand bells. Be covered his ears until the cacophony subsided. Sighing in relief, he pulled out his log book and wrote “completed” next to “innocent fun v937,783,632,561,394.” (1,303 words)
© Copyright 2009 Silva Shado (UN: sarahreed at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved.
Silva Shado has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work. |
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