I stop and start these short stories like, well, something that stops and starts a lot. So. Yeah. I'm sorry about that. However. I am bringing a new short story into life. Please enjoy.
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Everyone got taught it back in primary school. It was all very light and fluffy at that age. None of the technicalities were really explored. Although, if I were being honest, I'm not sure anybody really knew why it happened. It was just a way of life. Part of our biology.
The basics were nearly always explained with the book.
I remembered when the teacher had held it up in front of the class. The large print font loudly displaying the title: "All Is Bright". My classmates had been excited about this lesson, it was the same as when we had mysteriously seen the words "Sex Education" slip their way onto our timetable. We all knew that this was a major thing in our lives, but its importance was lost to the brains of the nine year olds. There was a substantial amount of giggling.
The teacher turned the cover. "We live our world in black and white. But find that passion, and all is bright!" she read aloud to us. "In one another, it may be, that coloured vision, is what we see!" She pointed as she read. The stick figures stood holding hands, clearly brightened by their new found friendship in one another. Throughout the pages, a different story was being told, each of the stick figures enjoying themselves with little stick hobbies or even just being with their little stick families. "Your passion brings the world to life!" the book ended, stick people covered the pages. One kicking a ball, another painting a crude tree on a canvas, and a third in a chefs hat.
The teacher turned to us "Now, what can we learn from this? What do you think the book is trying to tell us?" One of my classmates raised their hands, and without being asked he replied, "I think that painting was shit, also we're 10, not five". Another round of giggling ensued. Our teacher gave a small but content sigh. "Hmm. The book is a little basic... but, the basics haven't changed, that's why. One day you will understand what it means". She looked at the rows of all us children sitting crossed-leg in front of her, pushing our friends and laughing. "I hope you children appreciate what happens to you, once your passion is found. Your whole world changes. The thought of losing the colour once you have it is scary. But it's all part of the process. A black and white world feels normal for you right now. It won't be like that forever. For some it might even happen in the next few months, for most of you... it will be your late teens. Even then, it doesn't always occur for everybody."
I remembered leaving the classroom well and truly confused that day.
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