Tell me how it is

A couple of weeks ago, I did a writing exercise taken from The 3 A.M. Epiphany with a science fiction class. The assignment was to write a story composed entirely of commands. I gave the class ten minutes and did the exercise along with them. It turned out to be less difficult than it sounded and a lot of fun.

Look at the classroom. Examine the students’ pasty faces. Notice their twitching limbs and unfocused eyes. Recall the story on the news last night about a meteor leaving strange radiation over town. Feel grateful that you live out in the country. Sniff the scent of decay beginning to rise from the students’ awkward forms. Realize with shock that they are zombies.

Consider your options. Notice that they don’t seem hungry... yet. Issue an experimental command. Say, “Scratch your noses.” Watch them scratch their noses. Tell them to march out of the classroom. Feel pleased with your zombie minions. Use them to take over the town. Appoint yourself Supreme Evil Overlord of the county. Wage a campaign of destruction across the state. Crown yourself king of Missouri. Tomorrow, invade Arkansas.

Saturday Shakespeare

If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work...

Henry IV, Part 1 1.2.179-180

Seasoning

Low black clouds, utterly still air, a slight chill, dusk in the middle of the afternoon. I feel like hibernating.

Saturday Shakespeare

I would to God thou and I knew where a commodity of good names were to be bought.

Henry IV, Part 1. 1.2.71-72