(Kind Of) Cliff Crisis

(Kind Of) Cliff Crisis

Dadaism stood far above where anyone could reach him, swaying dangerously in the sudden and violent winds that rose up from the canyon below. Pragmatism had given up, Geology had wandered off, but Surrealism anxiously watched his unstable mentor. Existentialism walked up behind him, laying a bracing hand on his shoulder.

“He’ll come down,” Existentialism said, “Stop worrying so much. At the end of the day, he’ll be fine and you’ll have an ulcer.”

Surrealism nodded, swallowing a lump in his throat and walking away. Sure now that he was alone, Existentialism walked directly up to the perilously perched Dadaism and shoved him, one-handed, back onto safe ground. Dadaism laughed and glared in succession.

Dadaism Seizes the Narrative

Dadaism Seizes the Narrative

Hedonism lit more cigarettes than usual. Existentialism understood. He, too, could wait until the tense midmorning left him.

He felt like an asshole.

He felt like a winner.

He wasn't at home.

“You see how I can use Intellectualism to completely hijack a story line?”

Pragmatism frowned, “Great job, Dadaism, but you’re the only one amused.”

A grin painted onto a dirty canvas was Dadaism’s face: “Logic. Two things constructed the same must be similar to each other in some respect. Amused rhymes with confused.”

Pragmatism considered playing along to end it, something about Dadaism needing to become “disabused” of his obnoxious ideas, but inevitably took the simpler route. He called Geology for a ride home.

Living with Existentialism

Cast:

Existentialism-- "A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts." (Answers.com)

Pragmatism-- doctrine emphasizing practical solutions

Living with Existentialism

Existentialism had been on the couch for three days, and Pragmatism doubted his patience would last much longer. He needed to switch roommates so badly.

"Get up," he said, hitting Existentialism's foot. With wide eyes, Existentialism looked up at him.

"It's for the best, you know. That she moves on."

"Stop that," Pragmatism wondered whether a pillow or a bucket of ice water would wake up or shut up the depressed Existentialism better.

"And that I deal with these feelings, and learn them-- Psychology's so beautiful, you know, and so cruel."

"You are overreacting. Did you know that?" Pragmatism sat down on the coffee table, a paternal air about him, "She didn't say she would never see you again."

Pragmatism hadn't planned on being a therapist this morning. He hadn't wanted to, and he was silly for indulging his roommate for as long as he had. Existentialism smiled a melancholy smile and patted Pragmatism's hand where it lay on the back of the couch.

Seriously. A new roommate.