I pasted a sample paragraph of my writing on the website Who do you write like?.
The response was immediate. I suddenly saw myself in long beard and flowing tunic, dispensing wisdom and loaves and fishes.
Switching off the computer, I caught my enigmatic smile on the blank screen.
My wife hurried past, holding an empty tray. “What're you smiling at?”
She disappeared, no time for an answer, door slamming.
I sat, considering this new enormity. I could found my own religion. Some man — prophet, seer, philosopher — develops a system of thinking and wham! they're building worship centres and theme parks and re-naming interstate highways after him.
Makes you think.
My wife hurried through again, tray stacked high with plates.
“I pasted a paragraph of my writing on the website Who do you write like? and it said I write like The Bible.”
She glanced as I followed her into the kitchen. She put the tray down, filled the coffee machine with tap water, spooned coffee into the two-cup filter, stamped it down vehemently, snapped the filter holder into place, flicked the on-switch, and stood, waiting for the first hiss.
She looked me in the face. “So I guess you'll be starting your own religion, then?”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I did the same thing and it said I write like the Dalai Lama, so I thought we should move to Tibet. Coffee?”
Normally I'm allergic to bullshit but sometimes it can be a sneaky bitch.
Loved this on 52/250. The last line brings it all home. Peace...
Thank you Linda, for reading it again.
Agree. Last line is the punch. Nice.
Nice work, Matt. Well conceived and carried through and, yes, that last line is great!
I liked this one when I read it there; I like it here!
This is a playful and at once strong story, Matt.