‘Genius in a Bottle’ Prompted Writing Challenge

Larger Than Life

GiaB writing prompt #2–7

To cherish good things is to go beyond joy, and leave myself behind

I don’t care much for celebrations.

Parties, festivities, revelries, they’re all ‘much ado about nothing’ to me.

Junkets are junk. dos are done, affairs are unfair.

I don’t see the point. It’s a lot of effort spent to discharge a lot of energy for the privilege of a big bill and a day spent surveying the damage before cleaning.

I think celebrations are a good thing if they add value to one’s existence. The novelty just wore off for me many birthdays ago.

“What is the point?” I once asked myself. It seems like a conditioned response. A particular date ticked over, an achievement was attained, a special person entered one’s life. All of these things are spectacular in their own right. One didn’t die for a year. Excellent. Something one hoped for and worked for finally became part of their reality. One’s life going forward is blessed for that opportunity. A person, a soul that one had been searching for finally makes themselves known and asks to share one’s life in some capacity. That’s the most wonderful thing in life. One could hope never to see sadness after that.

And to mark such amazing life changing blessings we, what, spend a night cutting loose as a matter of principle? After blowing off all that energy we still need to come down out of the clouds and face the aftermath. To face the reality that the celebration was a false state of being. A manufactured situation. An engineered state of bliss.

Life is good after blessings. Better than it ever would have been, because of the blessing. The celebration adds nothing.

I don’t see the point of celebrations.

In two days it will be my nephew’s birthday. The eldest child of my most beloved baby brother whom I doted on and fawned over for thirty-eight years. The apple of my eye. The ray of sunshine gifted me from heaven. The one I taught, protected, bonded with my heart and soul. His son turns six in two days.

I was there when he was born. I held him mere minutes after his parents did. He gave me a chance to experience and love my brother in a whole new way. He took me back to his childhood again. He is my brother’s blood back once again in child form. And ever since, he has shared many wonderful moments of pleasure with me. He lets me forget the complicated world so I can be more innocent, as that’s the only language he understands and the only currency that he values.

About two months ago, I not only bought his gift, but I capped my three month search for his gift. I have been nurturing it through lockdown waiting to present it to him, and that happens in two days.

I wanted to spend some quality time with him on his birthday, without all the relatives and the sticky school friends that are at present putting together the perfect outfits for ruining my brother’s house with cake, pudding, ice cream and soda. I wanted time alone to be with him and make him as happy as his little heart can handle.

I have acquired an approved food list from his parents, I have secured a wonderful animated show that his father and I enjoyed as a kid, and I will be introducing it to him on his birthday.

I have a nice day planned for him after he comes homes from school and I can’t wait to give him the birthday of his dreams.

I just love him more than my own life. I love his father more than my own life. And when I think of his happiness I can’t remember who I am or what I feel about anything.

I still don’t think much of celebrations. They are still a waste of valuable resources and a poor channel through which to discharge surplus happy energy. When I think of this boy, however, I love till I weep. I want to mark how fortunate I am to have him in my life even though I don’t believe in such things.

It’s very confusing.

I’m not changing my perspective for just for him. I simply can’t think to proceed in any other way in this situation.

It’s all that will make me happy.

The Challenge

We invite writers to produce a piece of poetry, fiction or non-fiction on the theme of Celebrations.

This prompt will close on the 24th November, 2021 at 9:00AM PST/PDT. At which time, the next prompt will be released.

The Guidelines

We cannot publish pieces or reward writers who self publish or publish at another publication, so those pieces have to remain external to the challenge. Only pieces submitted to Genius in a Bottle will be considered for the challenge. If inviting other writers from outside the publication, please ensure they are aware of this.

Poetry is to be limited to 30 lines but can be in any style. Fiction and non-fiction submissions are to be capped at 750 words.

Please refer to the prompt in the subtitle. Feel free to copy this as a template: GiaB prompt # [insert prompt number and theme here].

When submitting, please ensure that one of the 5 tags is GiaBprompt. Please ensure a second tag is Poetry, fiction, or non-fiction, as appropriate.

We would like to become exposed to writers and pieces that you have enjoyed in all of Medium. Please tag up to ten writers whose pieces you have enjoyed recently, or who you feel may enjoy participating in this challenge.

For further information pertaining to the challenge, please refer to the rules and guidelines.

And away we go. We look forward to enjoying the paradise of the written word with you all.

Victor Sarkin

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