The Wall

by

RockTheRain

9/23/09

Up, Down, Left, Right, Sideways.

I pause.

Too many options for such a simple task.

The obvious way is to go up and down in even strokes, so that the wall comes out smooth. That's what the teachers tell you in kindergarten, when you're first learning how to paint with those tiny brushes that barely even paint at all.

What they don't tell you is that sometimes you run into bumps along the way, and it messes up your perfect section of the wall.

You have redo it. And sometimes...you mess up even more of the wall trying to fix what you destroyed in the first place.

Glancing at the wall thoughtfully, I raise my hand with the roller in it, ready to paint.

I quickly put it back down.

What other option can I try that won't ruin my wall?

If I go sideways, it will leave uneven blotches. Sure, It will get the job done, but what will people say? If they come over, and see my blotchy wall, what will they think of me?

They'll think me incompetent. They'll wonder why I hadn't just painted the same way everyone else does.

Up and Down in even strokes.

Either way, I can't win.

If I attempt to paint this wall the 'normal' way, the way society expects us to, I know I'll run into some bumps. I'll ruin my whole wall.

So I guess It doesn't really matter which way I paint. The outcome will still stay the same.

People will still think the worst of me, no matter how I paint the wall.

Maybe I shouldn't paint at all.

Putting down the roller onto the covered floor, I sigh.

Paint eventually starts peeling anyway. After a while all of your efforts will seem like nothing.

I can't help but to think to myself: Why bother? No one will appreciate that you painted the wall. They will forget that you even painted in the first place.

Walking out of the room, I turn back, looking at the wall wistfully.

Maybe I should just buy some wallpaper.

Fin