Pretty Little Pen
by Lorena Dichara
“It’s not you, it’s me,” I assure her. I just couldn’t handle writing a bad story with such a pretty little pen.
I know a pretty pen. She has an elongated body with gold details and a playful yet classy combination of violet, purple and soft lavender blocks. She is a nice lady, way too important to write supermarket lists or play tic tac toe. My aunt gave her to me as a graduation gift so I could write important and interesting stuff. She had a purpose, a path.
Sadly her life took an unexpected turn when her owner — me — became scared of her. Not pens, just her and her pretentious intentions.
The pretty little pen is now a sad, retired pen. She sunbathes at my desk during the morning on her fancy pillowed blue case, then listens to the ugly old pen being used for the rest of the day. It is a constant betrayal she can never forgive.
As I feel bad for her, her resentment towards me and my good old ugly pen further distances the possibility of a change in our relationship. “It’s not you, it’s me,” I assure her. I just couldn’t handle writing a bad story with such a pretty little pen.
…
This piece was written for the “Narrative Strategies for Objects” workshop instructed by Rob Walker during the 2024 D-Crit Summer Intensive Residency at the School of Visual Arts. The next Summer Intensive session will take place June 2–13, 2025. Apply for free by April 15th.
