Hello Darkness, My Old Friend
By Jesse N. Willey

        When I came toward the darkness I didn't expect to find the answers.  Alas, 
I did and they upset me deeply.  I found out many things I didn't like 
today.  I originally went to the darkness to find out why it pushed so many 
people away.   I got more than I bargained for.

        "Another failure in the social arena.  Figures," the darkness said.
        "It was probably..." I muttered.
        "Your hearing aids.  No, it's not that.  It comes down to basic problem you 
don't want to except.   You're too much of a doofus to realize it," the 
darkness said.
        "Realize what?" I said.
        "You're a walking joke.  You want people to take you seriously yet you're 
constantly joking around and acting stupid," The Darkness replied, in the 
way a teacher would talk to a student.
        "Just look...." I said.
        "I am looking.   I'm looking at you.  Do you want to know what I see?   Do 
you?" The Darkness said still trying to get it's message across peacefully.
        "Not really," I said as I began to walk away.

        The Darkness reached out and grabbed me.  The living shadows tied me down 
to a chair.   I turned my hearing aids off by painfully being my head down 
into my knees.   The voices didn't vanish.  They only got louder.

          "I see a little boy.  A little boy who the others didn't allow to 
play in their reindeer games.  Months and years of such torment drove the 
little boy to the brink of insanity.   The boy grew to be a bit resentful of 
people.  He never really let people who his deepest inner most thoughts. 
Just so people wouldn't suspect anything he created a cover.  Everyone has 
some way to deal with life's little problems after all.  He had to chose the 
comedian didn't he?   Brainless twit.  He enjoyed making others happy," the 
darkness said.
          "Max, I don't know what you're talking about," I replied.
          "Let me finish, and don't call me Max" The Darkness replied as his 
eyes began glowing a fiery red.  "Where was I?   Ah yes, he chose the 
comedian.   I did I mention he's got acting skill in the blood?   The only 
problem was over the years he learned to play his part a little too well. 
Somehow along the way,  he forgot who he was.  All he had was this vagus 
angst and self loathing that he couldn't explain.   Like all idiots, the 
comedian decide to name the problem.   So he did.  He didn't stop to realize 
the actor might be trying to exit his role.  The little Boy wasn't himself. 
That's why it didn't work out," The Darkness replied.
          "I still don't understand what you're getting at Max," I said. 
"None of this type of stuff ever happened to me."
        "Who said I was talking about you?" Max replied as the shadow enveloped me.

                ************************

        Two days later I felt stuck.  I had been wondering what it was the darkness 
had wanted to show me.  All that kept replaying was the most painful 
segments of the third and fourth grade.... stuff I didn't really remember 
about it, happening over and over and over again.
         Finally I realized the driving force in me had always been the torment. 
Without the torturers around, I beat on myself.  I didn't have to do that, 
in fact, I never did.  In fact it was the indirect cause of at least 75% 
percent of my problems.  Finally, the classroom door open.  Max entered the 
room.

        "My work here is done.  I explained to her how I... mean we.... I mean... 
you feel.  She's says she's got some thinking to do," Max said.
        "Why'd it take so long?" I asked.
        "You kept fighting me.  It wasn't until I you realized what your problems 
were...." Max said.
        "..... that you could tell her," I said.
        "Not me, you.  I may have been the voice, but the words and feelings came 
from you.  Consider me an intermediator on your behalf," Max said.
        "But why? You're my...." I said.
        ".... dark side.  Hardly.   I've just been holding onto memories you 
weren't ready to handle yet," Max said.  "Your inner demon exists and you'll 
have to face him one day.  Trust me, you'll be ready for him.  Just things 
you have to remember about demons.  They're going to take on a pleasing 
guise.  I've gotta be going...."

        He tapped me on the shoulder and my chest became a door.  Max opened it and 
a bright light shined out from inside me.   He took a step forward and 
turned his head.

        "Where are you going?" I said.
        "Hey, if you ever need me, you'll know where to reach me.  Take care 
buddy," Max replied.

        He walked thru the door and then shut it.  And all was bright and peacefull.
 
 
 

                        The End

   My fourth grade class belong to themselves.  I belong to myself.  Max 
Larkin belongs to himself too.  He's earned it.