The 1971 Willy Wonka was already a reality competition, and every kid who lost, lost on character. Netflix is running the same test on adults. So is every office.
The Gobstopper Test
The Same Tongue
As a teenager I figured out that kind words get further than harsh ones. Then a girl called me a liar for it, and I had to decide what my words were for.
Starting in the Middle
I got so excited about a project at work that I started explaining it from the middle. They looked at me like I'd lost my mind, and they weren't wrong.
The Rain I Asked For
We'd been praying for rain for months. When it finally came, I spent my whole commute complaining about it.
More Muscle Than Magic
For years I sat in coffee shops waiting for the muse, and it showed up every time. That's when I realized it was never the muse.
