365 Writing Strips One Bare
For Monday, December 30, Day 365 of the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge
She hadn't married him for looks, because he was most unsightly. She married him for his brain. Theirs was a marriage that was the opposite of the cautionary tale of those who marry their "one true" trophies for looks.
Even before looks fade, they pale in a lover's mind's eye sooner rather than later; there better be something else there holding things together. In their case, however, an irony on the cautionary tale emerged. She grew tired of his brain.
Until only his ugliness remained. She regretted not marrying for looks.
"I don't like your writing anymore," she told him one morning as he stepped out of the shower, naked. "Look at you, you disturbing tub of lard. I thought obesity would soften your unflattering features."
He threw the towel around him, ashamed, but it wasn't successful in concealing his entirety.
"You're not going to get any less gross to me, so you better change something in your writing. I've had it with your morose, maudlin, downer prose and your dulled-rapier poetic wit. He was humiliated. He belched, his GERD worsening as he had grown wider. "My sentiments, exactly," she scoffed.
"I write what I write," was his only defense.
"If you must write about ugly things, however poignant, step it up another notch. Make it uglier. Move me that way. I'm just here stuck on ugly you can't improve—either to something beautiful—God forbid!—or worsen it to something that rattles me enough to shatter me beyond the predictable I've been served."
He toiled day and night, and finally, after a month, sent her a text message with his newest creation.
"I see where you tried to go here," she said. "I know you couldn't write anything beautiful, but this certainly isn't uglier, either. How'd you figure this could be uglier?"
"Read between the lines. And then appreciate that I wrote it naked."
She read it again.
There were innuendos in the diction, strategic messages in juxtapositions of words, and—she realized—a subliminal call to action evoked, using only sneaky tenses, mood, and intransitives.
"Well?" he asked.
She looked up at him. There was hope.
"I'll need to read this again—naked," she replied. And then they made love.
________________
ABOUT THIS STORY: NOT an autobiography!
One more day to go in the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge, originated by L.C. Schäfer and, writing along with him and me, the other surviving "challengee," Rachel Deeming.
About the Creator
Gerard DiLeo
Retired, not tired. Hippocampus, behave!
Make me rich! https://www.amazon.com/Gerard-DiLeo/e/B00JE6LL2W/
My substrack at https://substack.com/@drdileo
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364 The Whole Universe Is Against Me
Byron Masters discovered the threshold of synapse interaction that determined self-awareness. His "Masters' Threshold" of S = f (D/m3) Nx 2.56P, still unpublished, also proved the connections needn't be neurons—one example being trees, sustained by the "S" of the fungi interconnecting them.
By Gerard DiLeoabout a year ago in Fiction
The Art of Caregiving
Step 1: Patience is a Virtue Your loved one may be in a bad mood, driven by frustration, pain, or depression at being in their current state. This is normal, and expected. As their caregiver, it is up to you to boost their morale, which can be done with positive affirmations and/or physical gestures of love; e.g. hand holding, back rubbing, showering with praise. Note: keep in mind that too much praise can be detrimental. The path to healing has no participation awards, and there are times when a firm yet gentle hand is needed. These occasions may coincide with doling out medication, feeding, and attempts to foster independence. If you have the luxury of being in a hospital/institutional setting, extending patience to the facility's staff is a must. They cannot be everywhere at once, and there are other patients on their rotation besides your loved one. In rare cases where staff members seem especially inattentive, it is considered polite to refrain from wringing necks and spouting verbal abuse. The general rule of thumb is the kinder you treat the staff, the friendlier and more helpful they will be to your loved one in return. This is harder to achieve for many people in a caregiver role, but over time the self-inflicted wounds from chewing one's own tongue to hamburger will heal given sufficient time. Your patience and nerve will be tested at all times. It is of vital import that you remain calm, supportive, and flexible, so that you can cater to whatever needs your loved one may have. Additional restraint may be required if your patience is repeatedly taxed, and not met with the appreciation you feel is deserved. Overall, however, the bulk of your patience will usually be rewarded.
By Natalie Graya day ago in Fiction
Comments (23)
As to the authors note, I am not sure I believe it 😂 (kidding!)
This is excellent and quite clever.
"...worsen it to something that rattles me enough to shatter me beyond the predictable I've been served." Chills.
Wow, that was awesome! Words sure do have power, in multiple ways. All of the obvious negative effects, but as we can also see here, for both motivation and manipulation.
lol didn't read such a piece in a long time. it's so different and creative. Written really well. Truly deserves TS!
Congratulations on Top Story!!!
You know that chair's holding on for dear life. He looks like that dude Burt from "The Big Bang Theory."
I fear the image you've evoked is engrained forevermore in my memory. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the humor (and the reality) of this piece so much.
that is a really good work I also wish to take up this 365 days story challenge, any tips for it?
I still have that fucking image imbedded in my brain, Mr DiLeo. I saw it appear when it was first published but only got round to reading it right now lol. The image made such an impact, that it helped me remember! Lol. I know, I am one to talk as I have used some gross images. Anyway, this was rather fabulous. He has the patience of a saint and though I don't see why they work as a couple, they obviously do. He seems smart enough to get rid of her, so there must be something that he still feels is worth working on to keep her. Loved the way it ended. Congrats on Top Story and so excited, though I've only dipped in and out with your work throughout the year, that you, along with The LC and The Deeming, have succeeded in your challenge! Well done, sir!
Nice 👍👍🙂
Beautiful story
Congratulations on Top Story!!!
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Lovely and congratulations on Top Story
Back to say congratulations and to let you know that image has not left my brain yet...
It has only actually just sunk in that you are doing this marathon write too. Talk about being late to a party. Hey, here to cheer you over the finish line better late than never. Sorry!! Ref this one. OMG... that picture! I don't know where to look! Thanks for the non-autobiographical qualification. Ha! Congratulations and I take my hat off to you!!
My first thought was "I hope the picture is not of the author", lol. What a great (and twisted) idea for a story. One day to go!
If she won't love him for his brain, the zombies will! Well-wrought!
I think the only thing he should write is her "out of his will' Glad he has the patience.
Oh, my bleeding eyes. Are you sure you didn't write this naked? 🤣
And this is why, sometimes, looks matter too. But I'm glad they got a happy ending, lol
🤣🤣😜