The Present From Spotty

I was in my room feeling down again. Just doing nothing of note, watching a YouTube video that I saw a billion times before on TV. It was 4:45pm and of course my mom was still a work. Since I was bored and lonely, depression was sure to follow. Feeling bummed, I turned off the YouTube video a little early. I lied down on my bed and turned to look out the window. I asked myself where the Hell I was headed. After asking myself that question I heard a noise coming from downstairs in the kitchen. Thinking that my mom might have just come home early, I wasn’t as nervous. Yet, it wasn’t my mom in the kitchen, it was a familiar face from my past. One that has been with me since childhood at this point. Making a turkey sandwich along with making a huge mess, was my old childhood creation, Spotty. I know he wasn’t real, but I played along and asked him what he was doing here. “I’m here to give you a present,” said Spotty. I asked him where the present was and he simply replied, “It’s here,” with a wink and a nod. Spotty tapped my shoulder and said to follow him down memory lane. Spotty went through what would normally be my bathroom door but instead led to what he called a gateway into my mind. 

Once we entered, Spotty led me down a long hallway as I looked from side to side, portals filled with memories followed. “Welcome down to memory lane, literally,” said Spotty. I asked him what I should do? And he only replied with only two words, pick one. So, I saw a memory that would bring me some joy, the day I got my dog Woody. As I entered the room, it perfectly recreated the day I got Woody. How I picked the little pup up and brought him home in my hat. Spotty handed me a remote control and I pressed fast forward. Suddenly it went from the day I got Woody all the way to the day Woody died in just a matter of seconds. As I mastered the remote control, I relived every memory that I had with Woody. After I got bored reliving my memories of Woody, Spotty and I went to another room, it took through my entire time at The Second City. I relived every improv and writing class I ever took there. From day one to graduation day, from the good to the bad. The whole time was like that, I opened a door filled with a particular memory and I relived every moment of it. Eventually, I was running out of memories to relive and only two doors remained. One door, with a gift bow on it labeled just The Present and the other door, with a skull and crossbones on it labeled just The Future. Because I wanted to know my future so bad, I opened the door without hesitation. Once I entered, three more doors appeared. One labeled GOOD, one simply labeled BAD, and one simply labeled WORSE. Because I wanted to get the worse out of the way, I saw the worse future first. It was bad, because in this future, I took my life. Spotty and I saw my grave, and I saw my family mourn my own death. Feeling sad and heartbroken, I fled right into the door labeled BAD. After going through the bad door, I was an older and lonelier man in a nursing home, my mind had long since rotted away. Spotty told me this is takes place a few months after my parents died. I walked over to my older self, and he just barked nonsense at me. Nursing home staff rushed in and restrained my older self. 

I ran away in tears and opened the last door labeled GOOD. I entered, and I ended up in white void. I walked around and then my stomach growled. I thought of a pizza and then a slice magically appeared. Spotty told me to keep thinking, and on instant I thought of a good future. I made myself a little slimmer, I made myself a little smarter, and slowly a good future started to appear. I had my own place, a job I liked, my family was still a big part of my life, I had more friends, and I even had a girlfriend. I wasn’t wealthier as I was now or I was happy, but just as happy as I would be on a good day in my present life. 

It dawned on me, I asked Spotty if I could open the door labeled The Present. I opened the door, and I was back in my room. And once I entered my room, my depression returned, but also a bit of acceptance. Spotty gave me a hug because he knew I needed one. “Remember, learn from you past, don’t worry about the future, and just focus on the present. That’s your gift. Your present life, that’s why it’s a present,” said Spotty. I asked him which of those futures were likely and Spotty simply responded, “That’s up to you,”. I gave Spotty one last hug and then I awoke, my TV still auto playing YouTube videos. I heard the garage door open as I looked at the clock and it read 6:30pm. My Mom finally came home from work. I began to question if I had dreamt the whole thing, but I didn’t care. It just told me something I already knew, but something that I always forget. Just focus on today! The present! Because beside yourself, that’s all you have control over. 

THE END!