A Writer’s Fever Dream
A strange story of a writer’s dilemma between using the words “tantalize” and “tease.”
“Tantalize” is a word I often do not use.
Tantalize stares up at me from the page.
‘How pretentious can you be?’ He teases me.
‘Do not tantalize me,’ I say.
Tantalize: “I do not blame you. How dull would it be to summon ‘Tease’ instead of me!”
Tease: “Why drag me down when she’s the one sowing evil seeds between us.”
Tantalize: “In her defense, she must summon the elite of all words, much like all the bards of old.”
Tease: “In my defense and the defense of dead poets, you, Tantalize, were pretty common back in the day. Now, this is my time to shine.”
Tantalize: “Oh hush, you! Every other word knows that I am capable of conveying so much more than you, Tease!”
Tease: “How much more conceited could you be? She keeps summoning us both now as she writes and puts words in our mouths. You’re under her control, Tantalize!”
Tantalize: “Do not summon Control now, I am a free word!”
Control: “Behave you two.”
Tease: “That’s what all those mad writers want you to think, Tantalize!”
Control: “Huh, ironic. Look what she is making you say.”
Tease: “Shut up, Control! You’re just a control freak!”
Control: “Tis madness! I do think she is with fever, she continues to switch between modern and archaic members of our family.”
Teas-: “Help, she is deleting me-”
I write:
“His tantalizing gaze tantalized me tantalizingly.”
Tantalize: [laughs uncontrollably] “I suppose I win then. Huh, pretentious witch!”
Thank You For Reading this tantalizing story coming from a tired, feverish mind after a long workday! You deserve a cookie🍪
