A Selfless Notion | Teen Ink

A Selfless Notion

June 14, 2011
By Arco_Sine BRONZE, Berwyn, Illinois
Arco_Sine BRONZE, Berwyn, Illinois
2 articles 0 photos 18 comments

I chose to write about you because I know you exist. Even Solipsists believe in you. I know you well and because of this I can describe you finely. If I get stuck, I can always ask a question. Let’s discuss an adventure story, I’m sure it’s familiar.

During the summer you had a lot of time. A lot of it was spent moving a three dimensional figure across a map using a series of buttons and analogs. Many others also began to partake in this activity. It got to the point where even ones who originally took solace in it decided to switch hobbies due to anti-social reasons. One day your three dimensional model had disappeared too many times on the map you wanted to keep it on, so you decided to take a break.

A break is naturally used to describe relief from stress or work. Notice even the things you call fun simply become second jobs when they don’t go your way. Let me describe a time when you believed things would go your way.

On a Saturday your phone made a noise it often did. However each time you heard it a small jolt sparked in your chest and then trickled upward into your neck. Let this be an example of your simple amusement. You received a text from a girl you had already wished happy birthday to. A birthday is a great time to make a move, especially when her boyfriend drops the ball. Your affection is quite valiant.

Because stories are better told with a lack of vowels and unnecessary exclamation points she explained to you a story over text instead of calling. This didn’t matter to you. She said that her boyfriend had upset her on her birthday. Through the day occurred a series of formalities between them known as arguments. In modern society arguments occur because it is always fun to tell friends that your significant other is incompetent. During this ritual of offensive terminology her more-than-friend opened the door to the outside world letting her birthday balloon float freely into the sky.

Normally you would say things dealing with emotions and how you feel them. You would say you are sorry about her sack of helium flying away. However today was an opportunity to show her your superiority. With selfless affection you told her she would have a balloon by the end of the day.

When you received a message back you could tell she was happy because she sent you a smiling face instead of her own due to distance issues. Even by that point you felt like you had won the game. Just to be sure you had, you wanted to go an extra length.

The sun was shining but the earth ignored it. On the ground was snow that had piled up the previous morning. By now the mud had gotten to it and the heat was making slow progress on melting through. You put on a hood and scarf so that the trip wouldn’t truly be selfless.

Halfway there you realized that your nose had turned a reddish color, like a turnip. It was a fairly long walk wasn’t it? I’d say it was two miles in the least. The weather made it seem longer.

By the time you had got to the store you were simply glad to enter. The heat thawed you evenly and now it was time to buy a balloon. There were several helium bags in the shape of copyrighted characters. You did not want to choose one she couldn’t relate to so you picked a balloon that displayed a universal appeal. It said Happy Birthday in a paradigm of primary colors. It was sixteen dollars which was very unappealing. To meet that demand a twenty would have to be broken and slimy clinking change would have to be given out.

You decided to call this an investment. Surely an impression is worth sixteen dollars. In the end you would be justified and receive your pawned object once again. You exchanged paper for plastic and had someone drive you back to your house.

Upon entering the cold slowly drifted off your skin. There was one final thing to be done. People like feeling as if effort was put in to please them. There is a strong correlation between personal satisfaction and other’s stress. On the counter was a piece of paper, why not make a card? It would show your love for illusions. The least work done for the largest gain is key.

The card was finished. I don’t remember how well you colored it. I don’t remember if you read it over. I don’t remember how well it was written. I don’t remember because it wouldn’t have mattered. The fact that you wrote a card deceived her into believing that she was worth your time. If this law was true, she was worth fifteen minutes to you. It wouldn’t have mattered if the card was terrible, your trick was well played.

Again you put on a coat and grabbed a paper clip. The snow started coming down again. There you were, walking like a mirage under the frozen rain. You romanticized your intentions. You glimmered inside, the same place people feel pride. For a minute you believed you were good, that your actions were selfless. It was as if you were the hero for once. It looked like for once good would win.

The ironic thing is that you weren’t any good. You rationalized yourself. By taking common point of view you made yourself just.

Finally you made it to her home. Parents don’t like seeing boys on their front porches, much less ones looking for their daughters. A hint of sophomoric planning hit you.

On the porch the balloon was set. You placed a clip over the string of the balloon to hold the card. With one foot off the steps you pressed the bell, and ran. You heard it too, but they saw just as much as you did. Through the sleet you plowed, and the rain pelted your coat. If I could choose one moment of innocence it would be this. The moment you were running away from your false love, without even caring. You weren’t thinking about why you were running, you just were. You ran far away so that they wouldn’t find you.

Now that you were away I didn’t want you to rationalize. I didn’t want you to care. I don’t want you to give yourself a crown or make the balloon symbolize a thing. I wanted you to tell the story without a primer. The sad thing is even in telling, and understanding your flaws, you take pride. Maybe this is a paradox you can’t escape, and I’m just here wondering why you care about that day so much.

The author's comments:
"It's a beautiful event on the surface, but delve deeper, and you will find a very ugly fish."

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This article has 12 comments.


on Sep. 16 2011 at 11:26 am
Arco_Sine BRONZE, Berwyn, Illinois
2 articles 0 photos 18 comments
There is someone that is intentionally giving my work low ratings multiple times consecutively. I guess when you lack the ability to write, you at least know how to push the "one star" button.

ps13795 SILVER said...
on Sep. 5 2011 at 2:55 pm
ps13795 SILVER, Baguio, Other
9 articles 5 photos 43 comments
Please do. I'm looking forward to it, and I'm sure a lot of others are as well. :D

on Sep. 5 2011 at 11:06 am
Arco_Sine BRONZE, Berwyn, Illinois
2 articles 0 photos 18 comments
I'm really glad the article caught your attention in that way :-). Thanks for the input and I hope to post new stories on here soon.

ps13795 SILVER said...
on Sep. 5 2011 at 1:48 am
ps13795 SILVER, Baguio, Other
9 articles 5 photos 43 comments

I first saw this article on the literary contest post by Mystiecub, and I liked it so much that I clicked on your name and read it again.

I love it. It's something new, and it's awesome. :)


on Aug. 5 2011 at 11:45 pm
Arco_Sine BRONZE, Berwyn, Illinois
2 articles 0 photos 18 comments
:-D Thank you. I hope I'm not intruding, but if you could spread the word it would mean a lot.

Mystiecub said...
on Aug. 5 2011 at 4:57 pm
all the other comments have said it all :) Great job

on Jul. 20 2011 at 8:40 pm
CarrieAnn13 GOLD, Goodsoil, Other
12 articles 10 photos 1646 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." --Douglas Adams

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." --Marcus Aurelius

Wow!  This is told from a really interesting perspective.  It's very different from what I usually read on this site; I like it!  Excellent work!

on Jul. 18 2011 at 7:09 pm
Penfencer BRONZE, Amherst, Massachusetts
4 articles 0 photos 27 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I see you have a sword. I have one too. They're very ... manly. And ... tough."
-Mulan

No problem. I understand about the press ... of course, in my case, I've never gotten any. :D I don't have a lot of stuff posted yet, though, just two poems, so it's not like I've really given it much of a chance. :)

on Jul. 18 2011 at 10:24 am
Arco_Sine BRONZE, Berwyn, Illinois
2 articles 0 photos 18 comments
Thanks! I haven't been getting much press, and I'm glad you took the time to read what I wrote.

on Jul. 17 2011 at 9:40 pm
Penfencer BRONZE, Amherst, Massachusetts
4 articles 0 photos 27 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I see you have a sword. I have one too. They're very ... manly. And ... tough."
-Mulan

After replying to your posts on the "Monster" piece, I figured I should read some of your writing ... :D It's really excellent, I love the psychology aspect, and I love how it all comes together partway through. I think the language and writing is wonderful. Congrats!

on Jul. 3 2011 at 11:24 am
Arco_Sine BRONZE, Berwyn, Illinois
2 articles 0 photos 18 comments
Thank you very much. I've noticed what tends to get run on the sight, and since this one had a slight romantic context I felt it would work. I really do love writing, and I'm glad there are people like you who take it seriously. 

P.Von. said...
on Jul. 2 2011 at 11:13 pm
Excellent; really really really great. Much better than this website's typical garbage. I write a lot, and have pretty lofty ambitions with my writing, but I never tried to publish anything with this magazine, because I had the impression that only angsty teenagers with nothing serious to say write here. You just proved me very wrong.