H.L. Pauff

Short Fiction, Thoughts on Writing, Chaos

By

Embrace Change

“Challenge what is normal. Embrace change. Open up your mind to a new path and I promise good things will happen. I want to thank you for inviting me to speak today. I hope you took something away from this talk. Thank you again and goooooo get ‘em!”

Those who hadn’t snuck out filled the conference room with a polite round of applause. James “Go Get ‘Em” Garvey took a bow and shook the emcee’s hand when he hopped on the stage.

“Wasn’t Mr. Garvey great? Give him another big round of applause,” the emcee said with a big smile. “Mr. Garvey will be available for autographs and photos in the lobby. You can also purchase his new audiobook or buy an official ‘Go Get ‘Em!’ t-shirt.”

James waited in the lobby by himself for fifteen minutes before the first and only person showed up. The man wore a faded t-shirt with the original “Go Get ‘Em” logo that James had never used publicly before. Before James could say anything, the man wrapped him up in a bear hug.

“Really inspiring presentation, man,” he whispered in James’s ear and rubbed a hand up and down his back. “You don’t know how good this feels. It’s taken me a long time to build up the courage to come meet you. I am your biggest fan. I’ve downloaded all of your CDs and I listen to them in the car every day. I even made my own t-shirt. ‘Go Get ‘Em!’ right?”

“That’s right,” James said, extracting himself from the hug. “Would you like to take a picture or have me sign something?”

The man smiled. “No, that’s ok. I already have plenty of pictures of you on my phone. I have this really funny one of you in your driveway. The wind messed up your hair and you just look so adorable. Wanna see?”

James left the building knowing it was time to embrace change and find a new path.

A little piece for this week’s Trifecta challenge. The prompt was to use the word “Path” defined as “a course, route; a way of life, conduct, or thought”. If you’ve never participated in a Trifecta challenge before, you should. It’s barrels of fun!

14 Responses to Embrace Change

  1. Draug419 says:

    Nothing like a creeper fan to divert you from your path (:

  2. damn, surprise ending haha i absolutely enjoyed reading this piece

  3. rashmenon says:

    Ah, a creepy ending. good job!

  4. Bee says:

    Creepy! I wonder what path James will follow now?

  5. steph says:

    The whole piece is good, but that ending… creepy. I love his handle Go Get Em Garvey. Nice writing.

  6. Jennifer says:

    Gotta love a guy that can at least take his own advice!

  7. deana says:

    Terrific ending!

  8. Loved that turn into creepy territory. Fantastic story.

  9. Love that this in-your-face kinda guy got in-your-faced!

  10. tedstrutz says:

    Excellent as always when I come here to read.

  11. JannaTWrites says:

    Creeeeeepy! At least the guy didn’t have a picture of him just getting out of the shower :shock: Still, I wonder if he got ahold of that old logo for the shirt by rummaging through James’ files? I think his path needs to be to a new identity, out of the limelight!

  12. Atreyee says:

    Ha!ha!What a twist at the end!Poor James-would have loved to see the comical expression on his face when his “greatest fan ever” was regaling him with stories.Loved this :-)

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