Write a short story in 20 paragraphs, in which the paragraph below is the first paragraph…
Nobody really understood Kevin. It wasn’t that he was super strange or difficult. It was more that there wasn’t enough there that anyone wanted to take the time to understand him. This was a shame as Kevin had many of the answers to the important questions most people who knew him had. It was even more of a shame that they’d refused to listen even if Kevin offered to give them the answers. So, Kevin remained silent, misunderstood, and kept those crucial answers to life to himself.
Julie sniffled, dabbing her tear ducts with the handkerchief James had provided earlier. With a quick look at the cotton fabric to make sure her makeup wasn’t running, she looked over at Yvonne and, with a surreptitious nod, indicated that Rebecca needed to fill the void. Yvonne smiled, shrugged, and stood.
“Look, Kevin was an enigma, a puzzle that confounded those who tried to unravel the complexities of his being. He possessed a unique perspective and a mind that seemed to operate on a different wavelength from the rest of society. While many individuals could be readily understood and categorized within societal norms, Kevin defied easy categorization. Though we called ourselves his friends, I bet nobody here understood Kevin.”
Her emotions spent, Yvonne sat down and waited for the next liar to appear.
Unwilling to miss out, Fran decided it was her turn.
Exactly, I agree that no one understood Kevin. That dude was unconventional in the extreme. I’d ask a question, and he’d start meandering through uncharted territories of ideas and concepts. Gotta admit he was annoying.
Behind Fran, Ryan stood and cleared his throat.
“I first met Kevin in the nineties when he came to the Department of Commerce as a lowly deputy administrative associate. Even before he finished his training, word on the street was that he had a penchant for exploring abstract concepts and delving into philosophical debates that most people found perplexing or irrelevant to their daily lives. His deep intellectual pursuits often left others feeling left out or unable to keep up. He didn’t make many friends, which never bothered him.”
That comment pissed off Julie something fierce.
I can’t let that go unanswered.
She shook her head and stood so violently that she almost fell over.
“I can’t believe you even said that! We all know that Kevin possessed a unique sense of humor. Yes, it might have been heavily laced with sarcasm and irony, but his wit was quick, biting, and sometimes even dark. Maybe you were just too stupid to understand his brand of humor!”
“What was his underlying message? That always tripped me up,” Debbie quipped from the second row. “I never knew whether I should laugh or be offended.”
Everyone went silent for a while, contemplating. Finally, Misty stood, adjusted her sunglasses, and tried to smooth things.
“Kevin also deeply appreciated art, but his taste gravitated towards the obscure and avant-garde. While others found solace in the familiar, Kevin sought out the fringes of artistic expression, making it difficult for others to relate to his preferences. I think that in Kevin, we all were different kinds of friends for him. He was fiercely independent and opposed the idea of conforming to societal expectations. He rejected the notion of following the prescribed path and instead carved out his journey, making it challenging for others to understand his motivations.”
“Probably why he flamed out in such a spectacular fashion. There is no room in the government for someone like him . . .” Ryan muttered, still smarting from the verbal lashing he’d received from Julie.
“Guys, Kevin wasn’t perfect, but who is? I always appreciated his propensity for solitude. He was comfortable retreating into his world. His introspective nature and preference for alone time made it difficult for others to connect with him on a deeper level.”
Turning to face Scott, Julie nods in appreciation for his bravery in sticking up for Kevin but says nothing. Silence sweeps over the group again.
“So, I guess, listening to you all talk about Kevin, we hated him equally? And, I guess we’re glad he’s dead?” Vicki blurts out in typical Vicki fashion.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Julie screams and, in the same breath, spits out, “You stupid bitch!” she screams as she stands and runs away from the graveside. Scott stands, glares at Vicki, and runs after Julie.
The minister raises his eyebrows in horror.
And these people were his friends? No wonder he sought out my particular skills when planning his funeral. If they were my friends, I’d do the same . . .He decides he’s heard enough, so he speaks the words that traditionally would have ended any other funeral. Crossing himself, he begins.
“And now we commit Kevin’s body to the ground, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. We hope for life eternal, and the resurrection of life everlasting . . .” looking up, the minister makes eye contact with a few of the mourners so that he can make his point, “though apparently, no one here hopes to see Kevin in the afterlife. Lord, if it is your will, allow me to counsel those here whose lives were touched by Kevin so that they may see the error of their ways and seek repentance while they still can. We ask all this in your holy name, Amen.”
Reaching underneath his priestly garments, the minister raises the silenced MP5 and, with practiced ease, flips the trigger group selector switch from safe to select fire and then to full auto. He smiles as he levels the black gun at the crowd.
“And now, Kevin invites you, his hateful friends, to join him in the afterlife.”
