They say that every story must have a villain. 

It could be anyone. A selfish robber baron billionaire seeking world domination, a scorned mistress bent on revenge, a demon-possessed child in need of an exorcism. These same three figures could just as easily be the hero in another story though; proving that villainy is fluid. 

As further proof of its fluidity, the villain could be a thing. A rabid dog terrorizing a neighborhood, a too-narrow road that spits cars and trucks from its unguarded peripheries, a quick-moving flood/fire/storm that destroys a village. Then again, the vast majority of villainous ‘things’ are nothing more than the result of human behavior. The dog lacking the care it requires, the road a needless and gross oversight, the flood/fire/storm an unheeded call/cry/warning from the earth.  

The villain certainly makes the story more interesting though. It gives the reader or viewer someone against whom to root. Perhaps even hate. If the reader is a psycho/sociopath, however, it gives him or her someone for whom to cheer. Perhaps even love. And couldn’t this world use a little more love?  

So then what is a villain? 

It’s obviously not that black and white. (Ironic use of metaphor, given that black is usually the villain or dark force, and white represents the hero and the light. I’m certain the slaves in Africa, the Indians being colonized, and the indigenous/First Nations people of North and South America would have begged to differ.) Because NOTHING is ever that black and white. Or more appropriately, that white and black. 

It’s safe to say that, whether your actions were intentional or mindless, you’ve been the villain. At one time or another. Maybe even right now. Because even the most self-aware among us slip up sometimes. Not to mention the staggering number of those of us with no self-awareness. And yes, it’s all too easy to see the sheer number of folks claiming to be victims in the stories where they’re actually the villains. Many of them are victimizing themselves. 

Life is nutty. And I don’t have the answers. Not a single one. 

But here at week #52, the official one-year point of my Extraordinarily Brief Stories for the Attention-Span Challenged, I am shifting gears. Starting next week, the theme will be ‘What If.’ I’m not sure yet what that means. I’m hoping to spin some once again short tales that are a little more imaginative, thought-provoking, and that force me to change the lens of how I (and maybe you?) look at the world. We’ll see what happens. And I welcome you to offer me your own ‘what if’ questions – no matter how weird or unimaginable. I could use the fodder. 

As for the 52 creatures that were born from me this year, I hope to further nurture, teach, and raise some of them into something more substantial. So if you’re among the (precious few) readers who stuck with me this past year, thank you so very much. And stay tuned. 

I hope you’ll stay on board for the next installment.