Eraser

A Story by Dan James

The story of the everyday life of an Eraser.

“It’s so dark. Then again, it’s always dark. At least when I’m in this cage. The cage that holds me forever and ever. However though, it’s not as bad as the other’s cages. I have the cage where I can breathe. Metaphorically speaking, because I can’t actually breathe. My creators made me that way, although; I don’t actually know if my creators can make things that breathe. They save things that can breathe, but that’s different. I’m getting off topic, I was talking about my cage. Stupid me. My cage is the best cage I know of because it’s the only cage I’ve seen. Well, technically, I can’t see per se. But I can sense what’s around me. Like right now, I can sense Pencil shavings to the left of me. That’s pretty morbid though, considering it’s shavings, but I’m not much for a filter. I don’t care if Pencils get shaved, it’s like hair to them. At least I think. I don’t know, my kind doesn’t speak to Pencils. Mainly because we can’t, and me personally, I don’t like Pencils. We always have to clean up after they make a mistake or something. Stupid reason, I know, but it’s just…”

Light flooded the backpack as it opened. A hand reached into it and grabbed the Eraser.

“Oh no. I don’t like it when they grab for me. I’m already through half of my life, but it’s what I was made for… I still don’t like this. I don’t think it’s fair.”

The hand then put down the Eraser onto the desk next to the Pencil. The Human got up, and moved off.

“Oh thank creator, he’s just putting me down. I thought he was going to use me. Well, actually, he is. Just not right now. I wonder what he’s going to use me on… A Paper… What’s this… a fellow Eraser! I have to communicate with it. Hello? Hello, can you hear me?”

“Yes, I can hear you. You are very talkative by the way. Don’t you know that?”

“I know, but I’m usually alone. I’m always in this dark cage. But I like my cage because it’s better than any other cage.”

“Yeah, I know. I live in the same cage, just different spots. Sometimes. Our creator moves us around. Mainly just throws us into the cage like it’s in a hurry.”

“I know right? And sometimes it just leaves us. It left one of our kind a while back on accident. I missed that one.”

“Eh, I didn’t. That one was weird and always talkative .”

“What, are you not talkative?”

“Well, not to others, no. But I enjoy the conversation I have with Pencil.”

“Wait, you’re connected to a Pencil? You’re a Pencil!”

“Kind of, we’re Erasers like you, but the creators made us connected to pencils. We have a connection to them you kind don’t have.”

“Well huh. Hey, I have a question for Pencil.”

“It better not be a stupid question.”

“It’s not, I swear. I just want to know if it hurts when they shave. Oh! And ask them how they shave.”

“Those are stupid questions, but because I’m stuck with you for awhile, I guess I can ask Pencil. Hold on.”

“Okay! I hope the answer isn’t so morbid after all. And if it is, then I guess I don’t have a filter. Because that’d be wrong, I think.”

“Pencil says that’s a stupid question. But, he feels obliged to answer because your kind don't know anything. He says that it feels like a massage, and that there’s something called a Sharpener.”

“Oh my creator, that’s so cool! I wonder what it feels like going through a Sharpener. I once had a veteran next to me a few years back. He went through a lot. He even had kids as Humans. Kids. How horrible has that must’ve been? Anyways. He told me once that a kid put him through a Sharpener and said felt like torture. But after hearing Pencil, I think that’s a lie, because if Pencil says it’s a massage, then it must feel amazing.”

“Don’t you ever stop talking?”

“Not until I’m dead!”

Just then, the Human came back and picked up Eraser, and used it on a piece of paper that was covered in lead. Erasing Art. Every Eraser’s nightmare.

“OW OW OW.”

“Ouch man, that looks like that hurts… Pencil agrees with me…”

“OOOOOWWWWW!” The Eraser was gone. Shavings everywhere.

“Dang. Went through another Eraser. Well, looks like I have to get another one…” The Human said. He grabbed into his drawer and grabbed an Eraser still in the package. He ripped it open and the Eraser popped out.

“Hey. I hate life. I’m going to die soon.”

“Creator. Pencil, this guy is emo. Creator dang it.”

The Human picked up the new Eraser, and started erasing all over again. Right over Eraser’s shavings...