The Unicorn Challenge – The Dreamer

Published on by Yinglan

© Ayr/Gray

For the Unicorn Challenge…

Randy crosses his arm as the Amazon commercial plays on his TV. You know the one where someone overhears the janitor singing and gets him a suit jacket to hear his sing on stage?

Yeah, that’s the one.

Randy hates that commercial. “Why can’t anyone do something like that for me?” He would mutter grumpily every time he saw the commercial.

Maybe because you’re not good enough, his inner voice would snap.

Being a janitor of the school he’s an alumnus of wasn’t what he had in mind when he graduated college with a degree in Communication. After less than a year of interning at a local news station, he gave up, citing the job was “too demanding”. He wanted something easy, make some quick cash just to make rent and pay bills. Well, there’s not much around town except… you guessed it …being a janitor.

Every day, he would be the first to arrive and last to leave. He would stay in his closet-size closet for most of the day before coming out and sweeping the corridors after the final bell of the day. Before this commercial existed, he would imagine his broom was a guitar and he was a rock-and-roll star in a music video. He can picture himself belting out lyrics and letting out a “Yow!” as he slid down the hallway.

Alas, these things are only good in one’s fantasy world.

(235 words)

12 thoughts on “The Unicorn Challenge – The Dreamer”

  2. You draw a very good sombre picture of a young man who’s too lazy – or maybe lacking in cofidence – to pursue his dream.

    I’m hoping one of his former teachers comes along and gives him a (metaphorical) kick in the rear end to make him get going!

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  4. chilling, cautionary tale of how not to embrace one’s creativity… one’s expression of art (of any sort) should never, at least in the beginning, be dependent on another’s desire to embellish their illusion that the working class have been abused since time immemorial*

    *what ‘missed the spirit of the sweet gesture in the commercial’?!

    lol. …okay maybe we should lighten up…

    (but am serious about the thing about depending on the audience to be willing to work at one’s art… your protagonist would do well to spend more time practicing)

    good story!

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    1. Chilling? I don’t see the chilling aspect of the story. I agree with the latter part of your comment – one should never be dependent on another’s desire at the beginning.
      Thank you for reading.

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  5. What’s so bad about being a janitor, Randy? Janitors and dish washers and cleaning ladies are the salt of the earth and some of the nicest people I know. I still remember my school custodian who was like a family member to all the kids in school. Every job depends on how much is put into it. He should be happy he’s got a job.

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