English language portfolio

Justification

I had to come up with a short story (preferably one-minute-long) for my school subject Creative writing. It will be especially challenging because it has been about 10 years since I wrote something creative even in Czech. Moreover, I have never written a short story in English. I have decided to take a different perspective then my schoolmates and write about something else than depressive relationships.

Reflection

I was a bit surprised since the process of writing wasn’t such a big problem. The most challenging part was to stop; or let’s say to keep the story condensed. I didn’t manage to keep it under one minute but I am still quite satisfied that it didn’t stretch even more. I am really glad I had the opportunity to try this assignment and I am very happy that I managed to express what I wanted in English. Except for a few mistakes (mostly misspelt words), I believe a managed without any bigger problems.

Here is my story:

I was awoken by the sound of the alarm-clock. I really hate that but it was quite essential that I got up early. I had a project deadline early the following day and I didn’t want any extra time-related stress. The work itself was for about five hours plus one hour for corrections which meant that I should have finished about lunchtime.

“Great,” I thought, “a free afternoon. That’s just what I need. So let’s get to work.” I got up, turned on my computer and then the sly little voice in my head woke up too: “You know, you should check your e-mail first. There might be a very important message regarding the project or a new time-sensitive work offer waiting. You’d better take care of THAT first.”

“I wish the voice wasn’t making such a good and logical point.”

After reading all my e-mails including all the advertisements in the spam folder (because you never know, something important might slip in there by accident) I started to feel hungry.

“It makes no sense to start working hungry. You would have to stop to have breakfast very soon anyway. And while you eat you might as well watch one of the new episodes of the TV show you like that much. What a nice beginning of a day.”

I turned the TV off two hours later. All the dishes were already cleaned and put back to the cupboard. I felt quite satisfied even though I saw two episodes and not just one but I was also doing housework which is a good thing, right?

“Housework you say? Didn’t you want to do your laundry today? The bin is overflowing. You should set the washing machine. It will wash while you work. Nice and efficient.”

Two hours later, the clothes were drying in the sun and I was finishing another episode of the TV series, still feeling pretty satisfied. I didn’t touch the project but I did all the long postponed ironing and the washing machine was working on the second batch of garments. Now it was the time to start with the real work.

“You should definitely start cooking lunch. You know what you promised yourself. No more instant soups. You can work while the chicken is in the oven.”

2 p.m. Lunch was cooked and also eaten. Yummy. Hearty meal is the best. Both the dishes and clothes were drying up. I was supposed to be done by that time but who cares. It was still pretty successful and busy day.

“And now just one more episode, so you can relax after lunch. You can check your e-mails again and write a shopping list. You definitely deserve a break.”

“Fuck! Is it really 6 p.m.? Why the hell did I go shopping today when I have the deadline tomorrow? And watched the whole new season of the goddamned series? Whatever you have to say voice, I am starting with the work now!”

At 10 p.m. I wholeheartedly hated my life. Not only I succumbed once or twice to the mean and treacherous voice and played one or two (or three or four) games of Candy crash and checked the funny Kitten vs. turtle video everybody was sharing, I had also completely underestimated the time I needed for the project. With a more realistic plan, I was facing a night spend entirely with work and no sleep whatsoever.

The moment when the first anger rage swept over me was at 2 a.m. With only 4 more hours till the deadline and work progress which didn’t seem to be coming to an end, I felt like killing everyone even remotely connected to it.

“You’d better go to sleep. At least for a half an hour. Working exhausted like that makes no sense.”

For a fragment of a second I started thinking about dealing with the voice the same way Jack took care of Tyler Durden in Fight club. But I do like my face, so instead of it I gave vent to my anger by tearing up the sheets I was done with to the smallest possible pieces. The voice must have felt that it was the high time to shut up and it didn’t make a peep since then.

I uploaded the project at 5.59 a.m. on the verge of my strength and mental health. I am sure I could do better if I had more time but I managed. And I learned a valuable lesson. I won’t listen to the bloody voice again. There is a deadline for one small assignment today but I have plenty of time. So, first, I will call my grandma and see how she is doing and then I might perhaps start working on it.