My grandfather has a sword leaning against the wall at
his home. It is not sharp enough to cut
anything, but as a member of the marines it was given to him, in honor of his
service. My friend has a stylish sword and wants a samurai sword. I got to thinking, in the more ancient times
swords were used to defend ourselves.
Now, swords are a fun thing to have, but there is not much use to them
other than just a fun thing to look at and admire. All of these kind of thoughts inspired this
short story.
TWO SWORDS
For as long as I’ve been alive I have learned that inanimate
objects cannot talk. I’ve been told that if an inanimate object is talking to
you then odds are you are crazy. I believed
that until recently.
Just the other day I was minding my own business when I
heard some voices. Curious I went in the direction of these voices and realized
that the voices were coming from two swords, lying side by side. Amazed I kept a safe distance and hid in hope
that they wouldn’t know I was there. I overheard their conversation. For the
reader I have transcribed what I heard.
Sword 1
(We’ll call him Sharp): “. . . You’ve been going on and on telling me that your
master is such a great master, the greatest man that ever lived, but you haven’t
provided any examples. I think that MY
master is the best master a sword could hope for. What makes your master so great?”
Sword 2
(We’ll call him Shiny): “Why don’t we compare stories? At the end we can truly
know who has the better master. I’ll be
courteous and let you go first.”
Sharp: “My master has fought many battles and never
lost a single battle. I get to truly enjoy the feeling of my blade tearing
through the skin and muscles of my enemies. One of my favorite parts is when he
stabs me right through someone’s heart.
Feeling that heart pump. A soft, warm, moist heart. Feeling it squirt its
wonderful sticky blood, feeling it tighten and loosen a few times massaging my
blade until it shudders and pumps for the last time. My master never lets me
get dull. He sharpens me after each fight. While you, on the other hand, don’t
look sharp enough to pierce a cotton ball, I doubt you’d even leave a dent.
I have
traveled the world and seen some of the great sights of the world. Have you
ever left the city?”
Shiny: “It’s
true that I’m not kept sharp, but my master is still an amazing man. He shines me daily and sometimes he takes me
out just to admire my gleam. He’ll proudly show me off to any visitor who asks
to see me. Have you ever felt that warm
glow when someone admires you? When they look at you with love and admiration?
I notice that you have some of the blood of your past victims still on you. He
may keep you sharp, but he doesn’t seem to keep you the cleanest. I don’t need
to be kept sharp, because my master never engages in fights.
I haven’t
traveled much, but I always know what to expect. I always know that at the end
of the day my master will lay me against the wall. I am satisfied knowing that
he loves me and will keep me looking good.”
Sharp: “Your
master seems like the most boring man that ever lived I much prefer the
adventurous life hacking and slashing my enemies.”
Shiny: “I
enjoy the quiet life, having a normal routine that doesn’t change depending on
who, where, and/or when I’m fighting. I prefer my life.”
Sharp
has lived a life full of adventure and traveled the world. He may not know what tomorrow brings and may
have rust on his blade, but he will always be kept sharp and he can be sure
that it will bring a new adventure.
Shiny has
not traveled very much, but he is always gleaming and in nice condition. He is not kept sharp but he does not need to
be sharp. He just needs to look good and is content with the fact that his
master loves him.
They
both have very different lives, but each think their life is better. They
wouldn’t change their life for anything. So I guess in the end the choice is
yours. Which sword has the better life? Which sword would you rather be?
