Viraly Jounded Moment

For writing class, as a sort of final project, we were each supposed to write a short (half a page) piece which would be photocopied and all together made into a class set of self bound books. Well, booklets. However, disaster struck! Several (or just one, I’m not entirely sure) stories vanished and were unable to be photocopied. Including mine. This meant not only did I lose the original copy, but also that NO ONE else got a copy of my story either! It was as if there were this party, and the mailman dropped my invitation. This is one of the things that really gets under my skin. I’m sure I’m probably not the only person this happened to but that doesn’t really soften the blow. But as far as my week went, this was just the icing on the cake.

Anyway, here’s the thing I wrote, reconstructed from memory, and expanded upon.

Human Nature

Day 6:
———-
It is alive. Despite my best efforts to the contrary, it is alive and it has escaped. I see now how futile my attempts at containing it were. No lock could hold it. No fence strong enough to seal it away. I suppose, seeing as it may very well be the last thing I do, I should give it a name.

But how to name such a beast? A beast with four limbs. A beast with two hands and two legs and clever eyes. There’s an intelligence behind those eyes. A mind that think and feel and plan. A mind that can adapt. Even now, I can feel it watching me. I don’t fear it beacause of what it is; no creature could be blamed for that. Are we to blame the bird because it has wings? The fish because it swims in the deeps? No, I fear it for what it could become. It is dangerous enough as it is but..
If it makes tools? Forms tribes?

Something just fell off the shelf in the other room. I feel as if I’m running out of time. If it does get smarter; if it does expand, then I hope someday someone finds this and forgives me. Another sound. Closer now. I will try to fend off the beast as long I can but before I do, I shall name my monster. My monster with fingers and toes and a head that can think.
I shall call it a Wallaby.