The Little World

Then they’ll know I’m good, and everyone else will know it as well.

I hope I can convince myself.

But what if I don’t win? What if I get marked down by the judges with the clipboards and the scoring sheets? What if someone else wins and I’m just an also-ran?

a. The world stops. The sun never rises. All life dies on the planet. And all because I had a seam line showing on my Spitfire.

b. Everyone laughs at me. The entire exhibition turns and points at me and laughs. The bolder ones throw empty soft-drink cans at me.

c. They throw me out on the street and my model after me. And call up the police to have me arrested.

d. None of the above.

Now that’s the really frightening one; ( d. ). What if I go home to the family and have dinner and go to bed at the same time as before? What if my clothes still fit and I have just as much money in the bank? What if I still have a stash of models and plenty of paint?

What if it makes no difference in this world or any other? What if I am just as good as I was yesterday…and have a chance to be better tomorrow?

Deep, man…