In Fair Verona

XXIV

"Okay for today we're going to take a break from this unit to do a small activity," Mrs. Bianchi says as she sips from her coffee. "The activity is simple."

She walks over to the board and starts to write with chalk.

"I want you guys to come up with a simple question that you could ask anyone in this class. And from that question I want you to tell me what you think it would tell you about a person based on their answer. Then you will get a partner, ask them your question and write down what you can gather about them about their answer."

Mrs. Bianchi turns to the class.

"Because everyone has a personality and a lot of people have similar ones but I think what differentiates us all is the little things. Our quirks, opinions, expierence and more all shape our personality. So even if you ask two people, who are fairly similar, I want to know what you could tell me about them based on their answer. It helps if you choose a deeper question rather then just 'whats your favourite colour' also you're aloud to ask why they answered you the way they did."

We all sit blankly. Now I agree with Penny mentioning that'd she seems like a good therapist.

"Get out a piece of paper and begin."

I ponder about for a bit thinking about what the heck to do.

Even fifteen minutes later people have got up from their desks to ask their friends their question.

Then I think of one.

'Would you rather feel pain, or nothing at all?'

A simple question yet it could go very deep.

Some people might answer you with,

"Nothing." But then they haven't ever felt the feeling of emptiness.

Or maybe if someone said "pain" they haven't felt real pain. Not paper cut pain.

Or maybe they've felt both and decided they like pain better then not feeling at all.

What also tells you about the person is how long it takes them to answer. Immediate means they didn't think about it nor the deeper meaning and probably went for what sounds like the better option, nothing.

But is it?

I mean there's the literal sense where you wouldn't feel pain and wouldn't react to being burnt. (Which would be stupid dangerous because pain is your body warning you). But then there's the deeper sense of if someone died, would you rather feel that emotion, or nothing at all.

Sometimes I think about how I feel about my mothers death.

I feel pain because she's my mom. But I think the pain is only there because I want something everyone else has. Part of me just feels empty about it because I didn't know my mom. I don't know what I'm missing.

Then I decide enough with the deep thoughts and get up to ask Penny.

I sit down at the chair and face backwards so I'm facing her desk.

"Would you rather feel pain or nothing at all."

"Hm," she laughs. "I think the rain is gonna affect my answer."

"Remember I'm observing your reply," I say smiling a bit.

"Okay, I say, nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Yes. Nothing."

"Why's that?"

"Because, I don't like pain."