A Little Secret

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About a little secret that wants to be famous

An original short story by Nathalie Abbing

Somewhere, not so far from here, there is an all-familiar place.

Out there, in that vague dark corner, sat a sad Little Secret.All alone on his own, silently gazing into nothing. Existence, Little Secret found, was such a lonely space. Life was so disappointing.

little secret 1 wish

Who or what Little Secret was? Nobody knew. No one saw his point of view. Invisible and completely ignored. For Little Secret no reward. There was no one who needed, wanted or noticed him. Or even greeted him friendly. Little Secret had no one at all. He felt so sad and lonely, without any friends or family.

Little Secret no longer wanted to be dismissed. A small unknown of which no one had known, that it could ever exist. Because even a little Secret, Little Secret thought, deserves a little fame, a proper name and a painted portrait in a golden frame.

Little Secret wanted to scream and shout out loud:

“HERE I AM! THIS IS ME! THIS IS WHAT I’M MADE OF AND THIS MAKES ME PROUD! THIS IS WHAT I CAN AND THIS IS WHAT I KNOW! SO, LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT WHAT I AM AND ALL I HAVE TO SHOW!”

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But then, when Little Secret opened his little mouth, there was not a single sound only a flimsy cloud. Without so much as to touch something or someone, it quickly disappears, leaving Little Secret in tears. He tried and tried, then Little Secret decides; he will be glorified, magnified!

little secret 3 empty street Little Secret needed something to break his silent sigh. A microphone to amplify each and every word. A stage with lots of light and hours of broadcast time, makes sure he will be heard. Big cameras take care of all the necessary shots. So nothing will be missed of all he has to share.

Then there was the moment when the audience awaited his grand entrée. The stage was illuminated, the crowd exhilarated, fascinated... Quiet please!They all held their breath for this big breakthrough, when the count-down started 5…4…3…2…

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But, when the little light of the camera turned red, Little Secret bowed his head.Ready to show his secret spell and to tell all he had to tell. Instead, Little Secret shrunk with an eerie soundinto a lump of slimy sludge. Until there was nothing more, than a stinky smudge. Of what we have already too much.

The public started to shout: “Boo! Boo! Boo!... That is no Little Secret. Get him out!It’s a bunch of bull! The secret of a fool!No one is waiting for this. Stop that drabble! It’s nothing more than a useless story! He is a stinking Big Babble!”

little secret 3 empty street That was Little Secret’s end. He was all he wanted to be. He was a Big Babble now. For everyone to see.Yes, he was yelled at. Kicked and spit at.Mocked and fooled. Laughed at and ridiculed.But Big Babble didn’t care.He took it all with the greatest flair, building his castle in the air.

Big Babble was soon forgotten. All the attention didn’t last. The smell of success was rotten. And the news quickly passed.As his fame faded the Big Babble deflated.So, it wasn’t for very long, or a new secret would unfoldand a new babble to be told.Old news was, for sure, not that interesting anymore.

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But, when the little light of the camera turned red, Little Secret bowed his head.Ready to show his secret spell and to tell all he had to tell. Instead, Little Secret shrunk with an eerie soundinto a lump of slimy sludge. Until there was nothing more, than a stinky smudge. Of what we have already too much.

The public started to shout: “Boo! Boo! Boo!... That is no Little Secret. Get him out!It’s a bunch of bull! The secret of a fool!No one is waiting for this. Stop that drabble! It’s nothing more than a useless story! He is a stinking Big Babble!”

little secret 3 empty street That was Little Secret’s end. He was all he wanted to be. He was a Big Babble now. For everyone to see.Yes, he was yelled at. Kicked and spit at.Mocked and fooled. Laughed at and ridiculed.But Big Babble didn’t care.He took it all with the greatest flair, building his castle in the air.

Big Babble was soon forgotten. All the attention didn’t last. The smell of success was rotten. And the news quickly passed.As his fame faded the Big Babble deflated.So, it wasn’t for very long, or a new secret would unfoldand a new babble to be told.Old news was, for sure, not that interesting anymore.