End of the World
We threw a party for the End of the World. We sent an invitation. It said: Dear End of the World. We're having a party. Stop by if you're in the neighborhood.
The acceptance arrived quickly. At first we were surprised but then not so much. It's likely there is always room on the End of the World's dance card.
We chose a place by the harbor and decorated it with inflatable periods and commas, colons and semi-colons. We imagined him looking around upon arrival and thinking: Now here is a group that understands pausing, stopping and ending.
When the time came, we had gathered by the inner harbor to look through frames made from wood wrapped in orchids past the colonies of rusting boats toward the channel. We must have decided he would arrive by water.
Soon there were doubts. We no longer knew where to look.
Perhaps the End of the World is fog-bound at sea.
Or maybe he drove and is caught in traffic.
Either way, you'd think he'd call.
Maybe his cell has no reception.
It was clear that the End of the World was not coming.
A bit dejected, the band played a processional they had made for the occasion. Those of us who had been waiting by the harbor entered to it. For a second I felt like we were him.
We ate all the meatballs and little exclamation point sandwiches. Something must have come up. We didn't think he'd mind.
Hilarious. I particularly like the line "Now here is a group that understands pausing, stopping and ending." & the idea of the EotW getting fog bound. Fog will do that to you.
So no looting either? Aww...
really great piece, funny, but glad your party fizzed out, arent you?
should have created an "end of the world" group, a continuous rapture party. this would be a worthy anthem. this made me want to have meatballs so i hope the world will spin for a while longer...
thanks much for the reads, comments and lovely asterisks.
i'm pleased you like the piece. it was fun to make.
@guy: the punctuation-shaped balloons is one of the true things. and no, there was, sadly, no post-rapture looting. i was ready, however.
@estelle. this party fizzled. the one it reprocesses went quite nicely. not sure entirely that i am glad the one here fizzled...but i suspect that had it not i'd feel strongly another way.
@marcus: we could still make an endless rapture party. they're always possible. glad you felt like meatballs after reading this. reading yr comment made me remember i am hungry too.
"Now here is a group that understands pausing, stopping and ending." :)
It's always a little sad when someone you really hoped would come to the party can't make it. Even on a global scale. ;)
Very nice piece, vaguely Brautigan-like and fantastical, not at all mean.
fav
Wonderful. I love the punctuation. The exclamation point sandwiches. *
very tongue-in-cheekish, with some stunner lines "frames made from wood wrapped in orchids" Maybe next year. . . *
thanks for the reads, comments and lovely asterisks.
@jld--this felt brautigan to me from the point i made the end of the world into something like trout fishing in america. i like brautigan, so the echo is cool with me.
@christopher--pleased you like the punctuation.
@maryanne---thanks very much.
This was fun in every way. Maybe his cell phone has no reception. Cracked me up!
My sentiments exactly. Nice job.
You hooked me and made me want to keep reading.
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thanks much for the reads, comments and faves. i'm pleased you enjoyed the piece. it was fun to make.
This is so funny and fun. I love all the punctuation ("exclamation point sandwiches). *
Incredibly creative, incredibly good writing. *
@kathy and fos: thanks much for reading and writing such lovely things in response. the piece still makes me laugh, which is a good thing...
Rapture....take a tour...through the sewer....you'll be standing in the rain...
Nothing like a little white rap on a Sunday morning to get the blood flowing!
I am a fan of your work. Big time. A fave.
Yes! It was disappointing! Fire or Ice and you chose perhaps Fog. Wonderfully original and funny, with a tad of the pathos
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Clever and humorous. I particularly enjoyed the ending. Look forward to reading more of your work.
@ robert: thanks for the read and lovely comment. i've never really considered that anyone would be a fan of these peculiar little stories. i'm pleased to be rethinking that.
@ susan: exactly. in the same kind of way that cafavy wrote about in "waiting for the barbarians.."
i live on the coast, so fog just kind of shows up: i don't have to think of it, really.
@emily: thanks much for the read and comment. i'm pleased that you like the piece enough to check out other things. looking forward to checking out your work as well.
I am always fascinated and intrigued by the personification of abstract concepts. The only point in this story that I got "stuck" was the inflatable punctuation bit.
An always timely topic, it would appear, and a uniquely interesting take on it. Keep the celebration going. *