A Heavy Load To Bear

By luigi_pagano

Thu, 17 Jun 2021

1527 reads

12 comments

1 likes

I was clearing a room that was wall-to-wall full of junk and, lamenting the fact that the Muse seemed to have deserted me, I said aloud: “If walls could talk, they could tell me a lot of stories.”

“What do you mean?”, I heard, “I am a wall and can be just as vocal as you.”

“Well, I knew that walls have ears but it's news to me that they have tongues too", I responded.

Then I challenged him to reveal some of the juicy bits that het had accumulated over the years but I was met by a wall of silence.

“Why are you stonewalling?” I asked.

“Because we are discreet.”

“You are driving me up the wall with your reluctance.”

“Sorry, but we have our backs against the wall when asked to betray confidences

“I wish I was a fly on the wall”, I remarked facetiously.

“There are no flies on me!”, the smart arse retorted.

“Haven't you ever dropped a brick and let something slip?”

“Only on occasions, when I was plastered”, he said ruefully.

I realised that there were cracks in his apparent solid structure even though attempts had been made to paper over them.

Although his determination seemed set in concrete, I sensed that this wall wasn't as upright as it was cracked up to be and I might be able to exploit the chinks in its structure.

It became evident that his resistance was about to crumble when he started to blubber:

“You don't understand how heavy is the load I have to bear.”

This was followed by an emotional outburst as he described all that was wrong in his life: that he had cavities; that he had been injected with some unknown substance that made him fear he may become addicted; that he had no ties to strengthen his resolve and felt utterly miserable.

I felt sorry for this disintegrating stonework and thought that, with some consideration, a rapport might ensue and eventually a friendship could be cemented.

I keep chiselling at the masonry trying to force this stubborn monolith to expose the dirty secrets of the many occupants of this room.

If and when I gain enough material to write about them, I'll thank this friendly wall and say:

“You are a brick, pal.”

Comments

Very clever and humorous

Permalink Submitted by skinner_jennifer on Thu, 2021-06-17 12:33

Very clever and humorous piece pf writing Luigi.

Jenny. xx

Now I can definitely say:

Permalink Submitted by luigi_pagano on Thu, 2021-06-17 12:43

Now I can definitely say: "You are a brick, Jenny".
Thanks for following my work and being supportive.

Luigi xx

No cracks in this piece Luigi

Permalink Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on Thu, 2021-06-17 15:46

No cracks in this piece Luigi - well done!

I feel as if I ought to crack

Permalink Submitted by luigi_pagano on Thu, 2021-06-17 16:03

I feel as if I ought to crack a smile, Claudine, but have to curb my euphoria. Thanks for the cherries..

Luigi x

Very clever and you've had

Permalink Submitted by Rhiannonw on Thu, 2021-06-17 20:00

Very clever and you've had fun, but I'm not going to spend time trying for a matching pun! Rhiannon

Don't worry Rhiannon, puns

Permalink Submitted by luigi_pagano on Thu, 2021-06-17 22:08

Don't worry Rhiannon, puns are not compulsory. Thanks for reading and commenntingg.

Luigi x

A 'plastered' wall - your

Permalink Submitted by Penny4athought on Thu, 2021-06-17 20:47

A 'plastered' wall - your double meaning conjured a very funny image...I loved this personification of human attitudes coming from a Wall, and your witty play with construction words was Brilliant. I’d love to hear the stories this witty wall could tell us, if only it would! Thanks for this little ditty of fun Luigi; I truly enjoyed it very much!

Penny4athought

I had as much fun in writing

Permalink Submitted by luigi_pagano on Thu, 2021-06-17 22:18

I had as much fun in writing this piece as you had reading it, JoAnne. It is amazing how we can stretch our imagination just by playing with words.

Kind regards, Luigi x

Once I asked a guy if he was

Permalink Submitted by Tom Brown on Fri, 2021-06-18 19:58

Once I asked a guy if he was God (well it looked like that he thought so) he just put his finger to his lips and "Shhh! Walls have ears!"

Yes I know a lot of very interesting people. Once this same guy bought a hotel they had him VIP millionare gave the show. Signed the papers but then he asked money for a taxi.

Tom, Cheers!

Luigi.