Happy Hour
“Why are you so negative?”
“Anything not the worst comes as a pleasant surprise and anything truly delightful becomes rapturous. It's a form of risk management. Why are you so positive?”
“Because it's a beautiful world and I'm grateful to be alive in it.”
“Your wife just died. How's the world treating you?”
“Why do you make up stuff to make people feel unhappy?”
“It's my job. Somebody has to do it. Otherwise you'd have no way to practice for when you have to deal with real grief. It's like a dress rehearsal before life imitates art.”
“You'd be a lot more popular if you'd tell happier stories.”
“Tell that to Stephen King and all the serial killer authors. What happy little stories do you remember?”
“The Little Engine that Could. I remember that.”
“Of course you do.”
They continued in this manner until they finished the pitcher and called it quits for the day. The one returned to his wife and child, the other to his mouse and keyboard.
“Anything not the worst comes as a pleasant surprise and anything truly delightful becomes rapturous. It's a form of risk management. Why are you so positive?”
“Because it's a beautiful world and I'm grateful to be alive in it.”
“Your wife just died. How's the world treating you?”
“Why do you make up stuff to make people feel unhappy?”
“It's my job. Somebody has to do it. Otherwise you'd have no way to practice for when you have to deal with real grief. It's like a dress rehearsal before life imitates art.”
“You'd be a lot more popular if you'd tell happier stories.”
“Tell that to Stephen King and all the serial killer authors. What happy little stories do you remember?”
“The Little Engine that Could. I remember that.”
“Of course you do.”
They continued in this manner until they finished the pitcher and called it quits for the day. The one returned to his wife and child, the other to his mouse and keyboard.
|
12
favs |
209 views
28 comments |
199 words
All rights reserved. |
Author's Note
Positive thinking is magical thinking .
Other stories by Gary Hardaway
Tags
Comments
You must
log in
to post comments.
Love the ending.*
yes, real cool ending and great tension. It's true, negativity needs a spot on the dial too.
Statistically, pessimists are more accurate at predicting the future than optimists.
I've heard that more goes wrong in the day of a perfectionist than anyone else's day.
Prob'ly why every day for me is a good 'n.
Good one Gary! Like it a lot! *
I like this read, Gary. Good closing. *
Yup, good penmanship sir.
Thank you, Jen.
Thank you, Bud.
Thank you, Gloria.
Thanks, Thalamus.
Thank you, Michael.
Thank you, Sam.
Thank you, Steve.
I am grateful for the readings and commentary.
I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows and I like your prose. *
Thank you, J. Mykell.
"It's like a dress rehearsal before life imitates art.” Ha! Yes... and the Little Engine that Could. This is good.*
Thank you, Emily.
Wonderfully sarcastic antagonist.
*
Pessimism as a form of risk management is a keen insight.
Thanks, Gary.
Enjoyed this and loved the ending. Truth in here. *
Thank you, Foster.
Odd little story, but I like it. I particularly understand Mr. Negative.
Thank you, Steven.
Thank you, Roberto.
witty and intelligent. I like it.
Thank you, Damion.
You can't stay away from the huge topics, can you? *
Thanks, Beate.
But it's magic, when the music is groovy, it makes you feel happy like an old-time movie...
Thank you, Carol. Lovin'Spoonful? John Sebastian, I believe.
Smart and strong. Great closing.*
Thank you, John.