Are people fed-up?
I attended a writer’s group meeting the other day. We were doing seven minute writing exercises on the Hero in Trouble idea. Get your hero into trouble based on things like time and suddenly discovered reality. The third exercise incorporated trouble based on attitude, assumption, adaptation, or opportunity. I received applause for the following piece.
“It’ll be easy,” Tyler said. “He’s old and he needs that cane to walk. We’ll just surround him, push him a few times, and demand his money. It couldn’t be easier.”He was the largest and toughest of the four and the other boys usually went along with whatever he suggested, but today they didn’t look convinced. Tyler knew if he could persuade Edie — the smallest of them — the others would be ashamed to refuse. “Come on Edie. You said you’re hungry. See his overcoat. It’s expensive. He’ll have lots of money, lots of hamburgers for all of us, unless you’re chicken?”“Okay,” Edie finally agreed. The other two nodded their acceptance.“Follow me then.” He led them across the grass to where the old man was standing looking at the war memorial. They surrounded him. Tyler looked for an indication of fear on the old man’s face, but was disappointed. He just looked angry.“Give us your wallet, old man,” Tyler demanded as he reached out his arm to push him. His hand didn’t reach the man before the cane slammed into Tyler’s elbow. A blow to his jaw followed. Tyler fell. The others ran. The old man shook his head and walked away.
The applause was not for the writing. It was for the story line. The reaction surprised me and suggested that people, at least the ones in our group, are fed-up. Fed-up with intimidation, fed-up with crime, fed-up with terrorism, fed-up with ineffective laws, fed-up with politicking, fed-up with legislation based on the profits for large corporations instead of the needs of the people they are supposed to represent, fed-up with decisions harmful to the environment, fed-up with politicians lying and stealing, fed-up with business caring more for profits than people.
I thought it was only me.
“It’ll be easy,” Tyler said. “He’s old and he needs that cane to walk. We’ll just surround him, push him a few times, and demand his money. It couldn’t be easier.”He was the largest and toughest of the four and the other boys usually went along with whatever he suggested, but today they didn’t look convinced. Tyler knew if he could persuade Edie — the smallest of them — the others would be ashamed to refuse. “Come on Edie. You said you’re hungry. See his overcoat. It’s expensive. He’ll have lots of money, lots of hamburgers for all of us, unless you’re chicken?”“Okay,” Edie finally agreed. The other two nodded their acceptance.“Follow me then.” He led them across the grass to where the old man was standing looking at the war memorial. They surrounded him. Tyler looked for an indication of fear on the old man’s face, but was disappointed. He just looked angry.“Give us your wallet, old man,” Tyler demanded as he reached out his arm to push him. His hand didn’t reach the man before the cane slammed into Tyler’s elbow. A blow to his jaw followed. Tyler fell. The others ran. The old man shook his head and walked away.
The applause was not for the writing. It was for the story line. The reaction surprised me and suggested that people, at least the ones in our group, are fed-up. Fed-up with intimidation, fed-up with crime, fed-up with terrorism, fed-up with ineffective laws, fed-up with politicking, fed-up with legislation based on the profits for large corporations instead of the needs of the people they are supposed to represent, fed-up with decisions harmful to the environment, fed-up with politicians lying and stealing, fed-up with business caring more for profits than people.
I thought it was only me.
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