Bri

17

The sun rose and everything fell. Alex always had this problem when building dioramas of the solar system; he could never get the sun positioned at the right angle so that all the other planets would stay afloat at the same time. However, he knew he couldn’t give up. Alex was just one diorama away from breaking the world record for creating the most solar system dioramas. But because Alex is an obnoxious overachiever, he decided that he could break two records in one shot if he built the world’s smallest solar system diorama as the one to complete his collection. The one problem- it was incredibly challenging to create the world’s smallest solar system diorama when you’re a giant.
Looking for inspiration, Alex retreated to the room that housed all his other dioramas. After several hours of rofl-ing (rolling on the floor low-spirited), Alex picked himself up off the ground like a teenage boy might pick up his date: nervous, but ready to get to work. Also in his mom’s mini van.
A countless number of glue sticks later, Alex was nowhere near completion. He grew increasingly frustrated with each rise and set of the tiny sun he had constructed out of clay. The planets were so tiny and his hands were so big, it seemed nearly impossible for a giant of his size to build the world’s smallest solar system diorama. Just then, a thought popped into his head: How can I expect to balance these tiny planets if I’m not level-headed myself? Alex recalled a conversation his mother once had with his hairdresser about traveling deep inside one’s mind. Discovering the root of his frustration may help him solve the problem at hand. With the help of the internet, Alex was able to quickly find a guided video (narrated by Morgan Freeman) that would take him deep inside his brain. Morgan Freeman? Alex thought. Geez, that guy is in everything! Nonetheless, he did as he was told and closed his eyes.
Right away, Alex was transported to a room covered wall to wall with pictures of boy band members. “The only way to escape this and move on is to do the unthinkable, whatever that might be for you,” the voice of Morgan Freeman echoed. Oh no, Alex thought. There’s no way. Alex tried to resist, but the unblinking eyes of the teen heartthrobs were making him more and more uncomfortable by the second. All right, fine. Alex closed his eyes and planted a big wet one on the lips of the boy that was closest to him.
Before he could even rub the taste of British Boyband Member off his lips, the room dissipated and another one appeared. This time, it was a movie room that played videos of Alex as a middle schooler on an endless loop. He cringed. These were the days that he had tried hard to forget. “To move past this room,” Morgan Freeman noted, “You must watch one full clip without showing any emotion.” Not possible, thought Alex. As if alongside Alex on his journey, Morgan Freeman said, “Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.” Oh Morgan Freeman, you’re so poetic and deep!
With an expression as stoic as an interviewer whose guest is having an on-screen meltdown, Alex sat through thirty seconds of pre-pubescent hell. His sixth-grade self was about to present his very first science project, a solar system diorama, in front of the whole class. Little Alex had always boasted that science was his best subject, so his peers expected a stellar presentation. Present-day Alex knew what was coming: the big F. And not the kind of F you want others to know about. Oh no, this F stood for failure. Present-day Alex struggled to keep a straight-face as Little Alex proudly whipped off the sheet that was covering the not-so-A-worthy diorama. The sheet was torn off with such force that it caused the whole diorama to collapse. Little styrofoam balls bounced all over the classroom backed by a chorus of middle schoolers jeering. His face smeared with shame, Little Alex chased after the styrofoam planets like teenage girls would chase after a bodyguard-less Taylor Swift. Forced to relive his worst nightmare, Present-day Alex kept reminding himself that his dedication to making solar system dioramas would soon be all worth it.
He took a sigh of relief as the next room came into focus. In it stood a giant-sized wooden chair and door on opposite ends of the room. “To get through this final room,” Morgan Freeman announced, “You must endure two whole minutes of insults and feelings of self-doubt.” This one Alex thought he could take like a champ. His whole life, he had battled the “belligerent giant” stereotype, and was a self-proclaimed pro. But these insults were nothing like Alex expected. Time seemed to tick by slower as each mythological creature verbally attacked his size, intelligence, and obsession with creating solar-system dioramas. “Your gigantic hands will never be able to build a diorama as small as mine can!” a fairy shouted as she waved her minuscule palms in Alex’s face. After two minutes of elves and fairies shouting insults at him, Alex felt the self-doubt and hatred fade away. As his eyes adjusted to the plain white room before him, the voice of Morgan Freeman rang out, “You are now at ease, and can accomplish any task that proved challenging before.” Finally! Thought Alex. Now I can create the world’s smallest solar system diorama with my big giant hands and win the world records! A nervous excitement washed over him. Alex stared at the door handle and slowly turned the knob.