Jimmy Rivendell

Once there was a kid with amazing siblings. The youngest of the family, Jimmy Rivendell had five brothers and five sisters that had achieved so much in their lives. The oldest of them all was the president of a powerful country. One was the best Olympic athlete, who held many of mankind’s toughest world records. Another was the highest-paid actor in the world. Next, there was a trillion-dollar company owner, and the richest man to ever live. And finally, the last brother was the most famous astronaut. 

The sisters were no less amazing. The oldest was a genius who solved all the world’s problems. One was an amazing painter, creating highly-valued works that inspired people all over the world. One was the all-time best singer, with songs dominating the top charts for decades. Then there was one that was a model who everyone deemed as the most beautiful person in the world. The last sister was a world-famous chef that made irresistible food that the people of the world craved. 

Then there was Jimmy. So you can see, the Rivendell siblings had talents to the extreme, each of them unique and overachievers in life. Each of them was proud and boastful of their successes. Then Jimmy was born. Jimmy felt like a fifth wheel. The eleventh child. He had no known talents. During his childhood, his siblings always teased him, saw him as useless, out of place, and a person that didn’t belong in the Rivendell family. They always told him he’d be working in a food factory when he was older. His parents felt bad for him, and his mother assured him he’d find his talent sooner or later. Even though his brothers and sisters were practically doing their talents from birth and Jimmy didn’t have one yet, his mother was hopeful. 

But Jimmy honestly didn’t care. On the contrary, he hoped he’d never find his talents. For you see, Jimmy was so smart, he knew that in the far future everybody would forget these superstars. No matter how amazing the Rivendell siblings were, they were just human, and people would eventually forget their existence. If he wanted to be remembered, possibly forever, or at least much longer than his siblings, he had to do something unforgettable that was by him.

So he wrote a story. About him. About his amazing siblings, leaving out their names so they would be forgotten even faster, and how he was the youngest with no talents. He would write it so well, it would outlast all of his sibling’s reputations when they die. Stories are in the world forever. 

One day, his mother saw his story and loved it. She was so glad, she said, “This could be your talent! It’s a beautiful piece of work! You know, I do remember you writing a lot when you were little. I never knew it could be a sign. You could be the world’s bestselling writer! We have to tell your brothers and sisters!”

Jimmy’s brothers and sisters were glad, but weirdly it was Jimmy who felt bad. It was inevitable. Rivendell children were flawless--all of them were. What made Jimmy happy was that he was unique. He was someone nobody expected to be, for he was a Rivendell child. That’s what made him himself. 

He pursued it anyway. The youngest and last Rivendell child, he was usually overlooked in history. People didn’t think he was the best of them all, just because he was the most prestigious author. Surely the other Rivendell kids’ talents were cooler. 

But he secretly published his story of him. He wanted to give it to the world when he died. He knew that he may be the most overlooked Rivendell child, but he’ll be the one remembered for ages to come. Longer than anyone of them. Ancient civilization excavators will dig up his story from the deep underground and learn about him, even when eras separated them apart. He would live on not as a person, but as a story. No, not as a story, but as a legend. 

Jimmy knew that he wasn’t the best of his siblings. But he also knew that you didn’t have to be the best to be the greatest.

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