Read Somehing Magical

Magical Realism

Magical Realism - (n.) painting in a meticulously realistic style of imaginary or fantastic scenes or images. - Merriam Webster

Grace DiMeo - You dream of a videocassette tonight. The video set will befriend you. 

Thursday, April 12, 2008 8:06am

     Alex sits cross legged on the rug in their grandmothers house. Wrapped in their purple onesie snug and sleepy. The 8" x 5" Television screen hummed while the end credits were 

rolling down the screen. Grandma whom was weary, retired after lunch and slept in her leather recliner. Alex pressed the rewind button just as her grandmother had always reminded them to do. The screen lit up blue, the picture faded. 

Tuesday, January 10, 2018 4:53pm

     The door swung open to a extremely flustered Alex. They flung their bag filed to the brim with college application letters sending it around their body. They stomped up the stairs eager to change out of their uniform. Hastily they empty their bag of hollow scholarships, rejection letters, and false hope. The phone rings to yet another college asking for surveys. Their phone dings proclaiming messages, mail, and assignments due. Exhausted Alex flops onto their bed which they have now out grown. The aged photos and memories lay dusty on the shelves.

Wednesday, January 11, 2018 1:09am

     The world was at first fuzzy, then like a camera in focus the scene became more clear. The static buzzed the blue screen illuminated the beige carpets. A stain resided in the corner embedded deep into the material. Everything seemed bigger. Alex walked towards the glowing room now in their onesie pajamas. Like sunlight spilling over wooden floorboards, the deep blue was bright. Inside of the room the old videocassette it played a familiar static ticking waiting to be used. The slot was vacant. It roared for a tape, to be rewound one more time. 

Wednesday, January 11, 2018 4:44pm

     The door burst open this time with excitement. The bag of papers flew carelessly through the air. They floated down like the dust of the VHS tapes. Alex brushed off what bunnies had developed. Down the stairs they flew like a bird of prey. A large sheet covered the old cassette that was once Alex's life force. Ever since grandmother had passed away the videocassette was written in the will to go Alex. At the time they didn't think it would be as exciting as it is now. Their hands trembled eagerly as the tapes were released from their boxes. The tape entered the empty slot. Silence. The familiar whirring rumbled the 8" x 5" Television opened to rolling credits. Alex had forgotten to rewind the tape.

Saturday, February 4, 2018 4:38pm 

     Alex slowly entered the household and took a deep slow breath. The mail-slot was stuffed with college advertisements. Calmly the papers were removed and placed into the recycling bag after a quick review. Alex picked up their much more organized book bag. In a folder laid a single college acceptance. Still without a scholarship but that was okay. Alex opened all the windows to allow the chilly air fill their house. They never really took the time to stop, wait, feel, and think. After restoring their love for their old VHS and 8" x 5" elderly television. They had forgotten how easy life was when they were a child. When everything had one step at a time. Sit down watch a show. Breathe in, pause, and breathe out.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018 1:44pm

Written By: Grace DiMeo