The Art of Boredom

Jeremy didn’t really know how to say it, or what to do with it. But he did know how he’d like to feel while during it.

He had no clue where to begin, but there was something so enticing, so blood-rushingly thrilling about the idea of just jumping in and getting going. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he knew that this was all just a show, a veritable jazz hands at the world that’s always pulling a middle finger but, he didn’t care. Not right now, anyway. Not today.

In the bigger scheme of things, across the twinkling night, people were doing it already. Heck, thousands and thousands (“Could it be millions?”, he thought) of people were already indulging. They were doing it right now, and he wondered if they too planned and pondered their beginning. Why did he have to plan so much? What was so special about this that he felt compelled to plan and strategise, to think up his approach and ponder his first time?

There was nothing special about it, he realised. While that thought comforted him, he still couldn’t figure out his first move. If he did “a”, he might end up a loner. If he did “b” he might end up overwhelmed. if he didn’t do it at all, he might end up… well, there’s a movie about that already.

Throwing his personal caution to the wind that gusted across his desk, Jeremy drummed his fingers and stared. Tapping away at his keyboard, he clicked across to the little blue box that said:

Please enter your username. 

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This post is part of a collaborative blogging process we like to call Tandemonium. Each week, 9 writers craft a piece in accordance with a specific title that’s secretly distributed to us. Without sight of each other’s work beforehand, everyone hits publish at 2pm, every Wednesday. You can catch up with the other participating writers here:

10 thoughts on “The Art of Boredom”

  1. Nice Cath. Simple and subtle and a little haunting.

    Liked this part: Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he knew that this was all just a show, a veritable jazz hands at the world that’s always pulling a middle finger but, he didn’t care. Not right now, anyway. Not today.

    Keep on
    love brett fish

  2. Yep. Typically brilliant from Cath Jenkin! Must’ve taken a lot of time to keep it this short, though?? Hate editing!! 😛
    My favourite? This line: “Throwing his personal caution to the wind that gusted across his desk.”
    Also… your opening line seems to have a slight problem… “while during it.” Should that not be “doing”? Just checking… 😉

    1. Hahah. oh James, I knew you’d be the one person to pick up on that. Truth is, “while during it” works better for me, because he’s mid-process, not mid-doing something. 🙂 but I like your style!

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