Read the stories “Forever Overhead” by David Foster Wallace and “How to Be a Writer” by Lorrie Moore. Both stories use the second person voice. This means that the main character is referred to not as “I” or “he” or “she” but “you.”
“Happy Birthday,” begins the narrator of “Forever Overhead,” “Your thirteenth is important. Maybe your first really public day. Your thirteenth is the chance for people to recognize that important things are happening to you.” Although the “you” here is very specifically a thirteen-year-old boy, somehow the story moves through the portal of the specific to touch a universal memory of adolescence. This “you” has a “rich scratchy voice” that moves between octaves “without any warning.” However, even the female reader is familiar with this scratchy voice – she heard it in the voice of boys growing up around her. A well written “you” is, in the end, all of us. The second person is specific and general at the same time. This lends the second person a feeling of intimacy, as if the narrator is whispering in your ear. As with Wallace’s beautiful story, the second person adds an allegorical quality to whatever commonplace rituals it describes. The boy in “Forever Overhead” is only jumping off a diving board. However, he is also jumping into the future, jumping into adulthood, and he appropriately frightened. Remember to read this story first.
Next, I would like you to write about a HABITUAL RITUAL in second person. Using the “you” voice, describe a holiday, ritual, or routine in specific and significant detail. Let the details accumulate. Let them be funny, sad, and honest. I am not concerned if your “you” character is non-fictional, or based on your personal experience. A lot of fiction is. However, we will discuss this exercise as fiction.
Here are some examples of possible rituals to describe. Feel free to steal one of these!
Piano recitals
Visits to a non-custodial parent
Thanksgivings
Valentine's Days
Going to church
Visits to the grandma in a retirement home
Your chemotherapy treatments
Your child’s birthday parties
Write 500-750 words. Work hard, have fun.
The 7-alarm clock starts. You think is another fucking day. Well, it is, but it is Friday. It is another fucking Friday. You know it will be a long day and you will be back home by this time if you are lucky. You go to the mirror. You see the baggy eyes. You hated but you just bought the last Lancôme cream. This thing is a miracle in a bottle. You take away your pajamas and open the hot water. You go back to the mirror. You see your breast. You think. I hope they can stay this firm. You love the work the doctor gave to you. You go to the shower. By 830 you are ready. You have put your make up. You are going to wear your brand-new boots. It is already 9 am. All the parents have delivered their kids to the kinder garden. You are waiting for the kids inside the classroom. You are tired. You normally are outside the classroom and say hi to the distance to all the parents outside the school. You are tired but you see all these happy faces. Georgina has a new haircut. You love her. She is your favorite because her mom is the best. Philip it is sleepy as always. He is already sleep seated at the end of the class. You are going to help yourself out. You are going to do some stretch exercises inside the classroom. They will wake up a little bit. At least 10 minutes. Maybe 20. You did not prepare material for today. You and they sing for 30 minutes. A new song that they will love. By 10 am you start drawing with them. It is 1030 of Friday. Kids will read out loud the characters of the play. It is 11 and they go for a small break at the yard. You always think the same. If I could only have the lifestyle, I deserve by working as a teacher. You also hate yourself. You think that you might have opened the bakery your sister told you or maybe learn to sell used vehicles like your brother. They still tell you to go with them in the afternoon at their own business. You know that you already like to much the alcohol. The 12 pm have arrived. The children will go back with their parents. The parents are already waiting for them. You see them going with their moms and a few dads. Dads always want to talk with you. You love to see how they try to impress you. There is one you really liked but he is broke. You know that a wealthy dad won’t have their kids at a public school. You go back to home to rest as much as you can. You have work to do, and the moustache guy promises are always to be delivered. Your boss wakes you at 5 pm. You are tired. You have sleep more than 10 hours today but sleep at separated times sucks. You prepared your bag. All your cute outfits. The lingerie that you bough from Amazon. It is an amazing outfit the nurse and Viking warrior. The warrior might be complicated to take out, but clients will love it. It is that the love children gave you today needs to be washed out before the love of adults arrive. The shower is hot, and you are actually relax that on Sunday will be the day off. The taxi has arrived. Taking the car is not an option. It is to risky. The last time you were way to hammer to properly see. At the arrival the Sr of the mustache was there. A little to early. Today will be a long day. He calls you by your fake name. Come Nina. He has rejected other dances waiting for you. You knew he was going to deliver. He has a big smile and asks you to seat on his lap. He is not strong yet. He will be drinking with you from 8 to 11. Then will pay the fee and take you to the same place. Being a hooker and teacher is hard.
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