Prompted Shorties

No One Can See Me

Prompt: Re-write a scene or story from the point of view of someone or something that none of the characters knew was watching. It could be a ghost, animal, the furniture come to life, etc.

Story:

I remember having a gay professor during my last year in college. I forgot what subject he taught, because it was too boring to remember – something about the government – but he always seemed to enjoy what he did – which was teaching – so, whenever he can, he made us do these weird home works that's somehow entertaining yet educational at the same time.

I remember one assignment particularly in his class, because frankly it was my favorite assignment that I ever did in college.

He listed five places: A church, a mall, a coffee shop, the school cafeteria and a concert grounds. He told us to pick one from the five and just stay there for an hour and observe people. It was pretty exciting since it felt like I'm spying on people but it also felt like a stakeout except we're in public and we had to be invisible.

We had to dig deep and tell their story, what were their interests, what did they do at the place, their behaviour, do their actions tell their religion or hobbies, what does their clothing say about them. Those kinds of stuff. It's like being a fly on a wall and analyzing every person around you, up to the limits of what you can see and pick up from them of course.

I was already writing a couple of stuff back then, so the thought of fabricating the assignment out of thin air did cross my mind, but I didn't. I actually went to the coffee shop and it was a weird yet, eye opening experience for me.

For one, people sure do love their coffee – I've never seen anyone order tea or whatever else they serve there. Two, most of the people at that time, ordered for take outs, they hardly stay there for a drink and just enjoy the view, unless they're meeting someone there. And lastly, frappuccinos were wildly popular at that particular hour, or maybe because it was three in the afternoon and it was super hot at that time.

I remember this exact assignment because it was also the only assignment I ever did that had a perfect score. He even praised me that he never expected such a nicely written piece from a male student. I didn't knew what he meant by that, but I still took it as a compliment. Plus he gave me an averagely expensive pen as a sign of my victory – I mean hard work.

I kinda wish he gave more assignments like that, but then I'd be the only one with an edge because of my experience in writing and everyone else were mere peasants – I mean people who don't write.