Episode 16 of the untitled story called "Steve” features a scene from his writing class, an exchange at the gas station, and a poem called Metamorphosis Cease
A Serious Question or a Clever Joke
“For the next few weeks, the homework is simple,” the teacher announced. “I want you to write me a good story. Now what you think I would think is a good story. Write me, to the best of your ability, what you would think is a good story. It can be literally anything, You just need to identify four elements in your writing process that makes you think you’ve written a good story. Got it?”
Steve raised his hand. “No.”
“Alright.” The teacher took in a deep breath. “What don’t you get?”
“The four elements.”
“Okay. Just pick four things would go into what your idea of a good short story is. And then write a story using those four things or elements. You have complete creative and constructive freedom on this one.”
Steve raised his hand again. “And what if I want to write it destructively?”
The teacher gave her students a blank expression, not sure if he was asking a serious question or a clever joke. “We can talk after class, Steven. Does everyone else understand the assignment?”
At the Gas Station
He handed over the lottery ticket. The clerk said flatly, “Congratulations.”
Steve laughed. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Did you want this in cash?”
“I’ll take a pack of Marlboro reds and then grab the change.”
“You got it.”
Metamorphosis Cease
A Poem by Steve
Oh God, I’m becoming myself again.
And I fear this transformation will end
Or bend
Or break
Or ever release me from its grip
Oh God, I feel your change again.
And I fear this will not end
Or die
Or snap
Or wither away into nothing…
Not until all the trees are ash
Will my metamorphosis cease.
Only the death of the world
Can kill this beast…
Oh God, I am me again.
Nevermore can I know peace…
to be continued…
© USA 2009, 2026
This was the 16th part of a cross-genre short story composed in 2009 at the College of Santa Fe.
Serialized Short Story about a Writer Named Steve - Episode 16: In Class, At the Gas Station, and a poem by Steve: "Metamorphosis Cease"