Writing No More Joywater [E]

[Dragon Warrior]

The following story is an odd tale about a town that is completely paradise until someone comes and changes everything. It's an artistic story, so feel free to take whatever meaning you want out of it. I'd just like to hear what you guys think about it and perhaps even share your views on it. Thank you.

WARNING: This story is rated E for Everyone, but there is a small reference to alcohol.

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[SIZE=4][B]No More Joywater[/B][/SIZE][/center]

[size=1]Once long ago, a man was happy. This man, who was often just called Mr. Guff, woke up every morning like the rest of the average folk of Happyville, and went about his daily duties with a smile across his face. He traversed toward his occupation as owner of a small tavern and started his day like everyone else. Everyone in Happyville was the same. They all wore smiles, they all worn green, they were all happy. Reasons of why everyone was like this is because no one in Happyville thinks. If a lucid thought pattern did not cross their mindscape, they did not have any opinions or ideas, but they also did not notice The Dark Side of the World nor its troubles. Everything was prime in Happyville.

But one day, something changed. It was that no one ever left or came to Happyville. It was in the middle of nowhere in particular. But one stranger arrived one day in one awkward manner. He not only brought himself, but brought change through the idea of thoughts. When the happy folk of Happyville saw him and his gray attire, they immediately knew he had traveled far; far from The Dark Side of the World.

The Gray Stranger arrived at Mr. Guff?s tavern, a place where laughs often filled the patrons just as the fine drinks filled their mugs. In Happyville, they only drank a drink called Joywater. But the Gray Stranger hadn?t stopped changing things. He didn?t order Joywater. He ordered liquor. Cold, hard liquor. He took it down quick as the other customers watched in awe. This new drink that had always been offered, but never served was intriguing to them. One of them ordered it. Then another. Eventually, everyone else was drinking liquor. They had never tasted such a drink. But just as quick as they guzzled it down, their vision went black and they were on the floor.

Only Mr. Guff remained with the Gray Stranger in the land of conscious. He stood behind the counter, preparing more liquor for the man. Then the Gray Stranger told many stories over many drinks to Mr. Guff, explaining the world beyond Happyville. How The Dark Side of the World was really the Light of Opportunity. There were towns ten times the size of Happyville with buildings that blocked out the sun. There were all sorts of people and animals and plants and wonders beyond imaginable. Happyville was only the beginning!

However, Mr. Guff did not believe the Gray Stranger. He smiled politely, excused the man as being poisoned from The Dark Side of the World, and sent him on his way with a last glass of liquor. The Gray Stranger stepped toward the door and turned. He stared at Mr. Guff, a stare of seriousness, no smile noticeable. This was the first time Mr. Guff had ever seen a frown. The Gray Stranger muttered one thing before stepping out the door.

?Think about it.?

He was then gone.

Normally if someone said something odd to Mr. Guff, he?d excuse it. But this was a stranger from The Dark Side of the World and it stuck with him. That night, he went home and ate his normal dinner, watched his normal shows, and slept in his regular old bed. But he couldn?t sleep. Something was stopping him. Could they be? thoughts?

Mr. Guff awoke the next morning tired, ornery, and confused. Thoughts clouded his mind and he couldn?t think straight. Of course, he never thought before in the first place. This was new. He wasn?t sure what to make of it. He stepped outside in his green attire and waved to the fellow happy folk in their green attire. They smiled. He forced a smile.

He arrived at the tavern only to find many happy folk standing at the door, wishing for more of that fantastic drink that was not Joywater. He stepped inside and served them all the drinks and like last time, he found they were all passed out in their booths and chairs. Some even littered the floor. And like the previous day, they went home a little tired, ornery, and confused, just as Mr. Guff was.

Mr. Guff arrived home that night, still tired, ornery, and confused. He ate his normal dinner. It tasted stale. He watched his normal shows. They somehow bored him. He slept in his regular old bed and once more could not sleep. He thought on it and made one final conclusion: he was not happy.

The next day, Mr. Guff stepped out in the town of Happyville. Eyes wandered towards him in shock and appall. He passed the smiling happy folk in their green attire. They passed the frowning Mr. Guff in his gray attire. When he arrived at the tavern, the same happy folk were awaiting the Magical Drink. He scowled and passed them by. They stayed at the entrance, confused.

Eventually, everyone left their houses and followed Mr. Guff. Both from curiosity and fright, they wanted to know what he was up to. He finally stopped traversing when he arrived at the edge of Happyville, an opening only used once by the Gray Stranger that passed through what seemed like centuries ago. Mr. Guff stared back at the wondering happy folk of Happyville. They were no longer smiling. No one was. They were tired, ornery, and confused. They stared blankly into the gray of Mr. Guff?s attire. Then the skies turned the same color. The tone of the town grew dark and rain poured down, something that had never happened before. Many happy folk complained they were getting wet. Some were too cranky to care. But they all waited for Mr. Guff to act all the same.

He didn?t move for a long time. He just gave Happyville a good, hard look like he was taking it in for the last time. But in truth, he was. Before stepping out, he said one final thing.

?Think about it.?

Then he left. He left forever, with no intention of ever returning. He was going to see the world; the world the happy folk feared as The Dark Side; the world they feared would lead to their deaths. But because they were afraid to leaving, they too began to think. And because they began to think, they too became unhappy. The rain poured harder and the green bled from their clothes. They all were eventually wearing gray attire to match the frowns they wore across their faces.

No one made a move for a long time until one man took a step. He walked through the crowd toward the opening that led out of Happyville. When he crossed over, another followed, then another. Soon, the happy folk left in masses until no one remained in the town. They all left for good, with no intention of ever returning. Upon leaving, they found the rain ceased, the clouds parted, and more beautiful colors than just green were vivid. The Dark Side of the World didn?t wait to engulf them. It was the Light of Opportunity that shined so brightly for them. Now that they saw what they were missing, they understood. Everyone understood.

As for Happyville, the place became deserted and legend. Like before, no one ever left or came to Happyville. And no one had any intentions of ever arriving for a very long time.[/size]

[img]http://img131.exs.cx/img131/8930/dwwashere9rz.gif[/img]

[Ellerby]

[FONT=Tahoma][color=#555555]Oh yes.

Beautiful, Gav. This short story really gets you thinking. It could be taken as a completely original story, or could be taken as a satire. That's what gets you thinking, and I like that.

Aside from that, it's written wonderfully. You didn't take much time to describe every tiny detail, but it was just enough to picture what was happening. Not too much, not too little.

I really enjoyed it. Bravo.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[Ikillion]

[COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1][FONT=Comic Sans MS]To much Deja vu today.

This story seems alot of what it was like the growing up life of the founder of Buddhism, Siddartha something, I can't remember the last name. With the whole " Everything is perfect in here...but you really don't want to go outside." The only difference being that the outside was horrible and such. While in this story, the outside was actually a rather good thing.

You should think abou it...It was a good story never the less though.[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Gavin]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting.

So old friend, you seem to be of the opinion that thinking makes people unhappy ? If such is the case it probably explains why my life over the last few months has been getting progressively better due to the fact that I'm doing less and less soul searching. Perhaps you've stumbled upon some gem of truth, although the phrase Ignorance is Bliss seems to supercede you. All kidding aside it is an intriguing little story you've written, as White said it could be satire or it may not, and that's what get's you thinking. Different people will read different things from it. [/SIZE]

[Dragon Warrior]

I'm not sure if I'm completely saying thinking makes people unhappy. It's the fact that they never thought about the fact that they've been living the same life over and over and have not tried anything outside the their small town. So thinking made them unhappy due to their realization, but shortly after they became pleased because they left Happyville.

That's what I take from it, anyway.

[img]http://img131.exs.cx/img131/8930/dwwashere9rz.gif[/img]