The Worst Thing I Almost Did
There are many common themes in entertainment, such as when Luke Skywalker learned the truth about his father. The audience loved the suspense, the surprise, and the fantastic aftermath. Most plots have the basic pattern of a beginning or introduction, a detailed middle, and a conclusion. Stories that do not follow this typical theme are generally not entertaining.
I wanted to discuss something that happened to me that does not fit the story mold. I almost did something and learned a valuable lesson. Around 20, I went to the movies with a friend. Afterward, we headed to the parking lot and saw an 18-year-old walking (away from us) with his father. This kid had gone far out of his way to look like a complete punk. He put in safety pin piercings all around his head, grotesquely shaved off his hair with orange/yellow hair dye, and wore a satanic shirt. This is an excellent example of all that is wrong with society.
This obscene sight upset my tranquil evening, and I decided to confront this idiot. I walked up to him to say, “You look terrible!” (Alright, truth. Four-letter words would have been involved.)
When I approached, my opinion did a 180. The 12-year-old boy had been severely burned, and his entire face was radically disfigured. The severe damage made him look a lot older. The safety pins were surgical staples from a recent reconstruction operation. Most of his hair would never grow back, and what little remained was stained with orange antiseptic. His “satanic” shirt, upon closer inspection, proclaimed his survival success at a Christian youth camp. The boy smiled at me. I immediately understood the sight before me. This was a happy child with his father, who had just attended their first movie after a traumatic event.
I walked away feeling like the biggest jerk in the world. I reflect upon that shameful memory to this day, and I believe the experience helped me become a better person. What a great life lesson. Hey, let’s include this powerful memory in one of my stories.
Not so fast. Bill almost insulted a boy. Boring! It would read much better if Bill insulted the boy and cried his eyes out in shame. Why? Readers cannot relate to a near event. “Bill thought about the incident.” So? Technically, Bill did not do anything wrong. The kid smiled at him. Big deal. “Hey, Bill! Man up and move on! No harm, no foul.”
The core moment was the kid’s smile. There was no conflict, but that smile did more to my ego than a thousand bullets. At that moment, the twelve-year-old boy was far more mature than me. It is challenging to have a character go through the same event and pull the reader into their pain because nothing happened. Taping into this powerful memory would be fantastic, but it will not happen.
What can we conclude? One. Be careful who you insult. Two. Life is complex and rarely predictable. Three. Real life does not always translate into words. Four. It’s fun to explore these topics.
You’re the best -Bill
May 15 2019 Updated April 13, 2024
I wanted to discuss something that happened to me that does not fit the story mold. I almost did something and learned a valuable lesson. Around 20, I went to the movies with a friend. Afterward, we headed to the parking lot and saw an 18-year-old walking (away from us) with his father. This kid had gone far out of his way to look like a complete punk. He put in safety pin piercings all around his head, grotesquely shaved off his hair with orange/yellow hair dye, and wore a satanic shirt. This is an excellent example of all that is wrong with society.
This obscene sight upset my tranquil evening, and I decided to confront this idiot. I walked up to him to say, “You look terrible!” (Alright, truth. Four-letter words would have been involved.)
When I approached, my opinion did a 180. The 12-year-old boy had been severely burned, and his entire face was radically disfigured. The severe damage made him look a lot older. The safety pins were surgical staples from a recent reconstruction operation. Most of his hair would never grow back, and what little remained was stained with orange antiseptic. His “satanic” shirt, upon closer inspection, proclaimed his survival success at a Christian youth camp. The boy smiled at me. I immediately understood the sight before me. This was a happy child with his father, who had just attended their first movie after a traumatic event.
I walked away feeling like the biggest jerk in the world. I reflect upon that shameful memory to this day, and I believe the experience helped me become a better person. What a great life lesson. Hey, let’s include this powerful memory in one of my stories.
Not so fast. Bill almost insulted a boy. Boring! It would read much better if Bill insulted the boy and cried his eyes out in shame. Why? Readers cannot relate to a near event. “Bill thought about the incident.” So? Technically, Bill did not do anything wrong. The kid smiled at him. Big deal. “Hey, Bill! Man up and move on! No harm, no foul.”
The core moment was the kid’s smile. There was no conflict, but that smile did more to my ego than a thousand bullets. At that moment, the twelve-year-old boy was far more mature than me. It is challenging to have a character go through the same event and pull the reader into their pain because nothing happened. Taping into this powerful memory would be fantastic, but it will not happen.
What can we conclude? One. Be careful who you insult. Two. Life is complex and rarely predictable. Three. Real life does not always translate into words. Four. It’s fun to explore these topics.
You’re the best -Bill
May 15 2019 Updated April 13, 2024
