That Type of Story

Stanley Lang was as normal as a human could get. That may seem an impolite description, but that was exactly what he was. Normal. In another sort of story, Stanley would eventually discover that he wasn’t as ordinary as he thought, that he possessed a great talent, or that he was heir to a magical destiny. This, of course, is not that type of story. The extent of his talents ended at programming and a basic knowledge of making ramen noodles. It seemed his only destiny lay in his small, drab apartment and his small, drab cubicle. That seemed enough for him. Most people thought that this meant he was easily pleased, but in reality, he just assumed that he would never have anything better. And perhaps that was true.

His lunch break started at exactly 11:30 everyday. Once he finished his current task, he would close up his computer and head out to the street. Then he would walk to the same deli (Nino’s), buy the same sandwich (turkey and swiss), and eat at the same bench (the one to the south of the park). There he would watch the same people walk through the same park on their same daily business. This monotony sounds unbearable to many, but Stanley had come to rely on it. It gave him a sense of consistency, which he had decided long ago was much better than uncertainty. But uncertainty was what he was about to get.

After he finished his meal, he began walking back to work. He noticed Denise, one of his co-workers, heading towards the most heavily wooded area of the park. He followed after her, not out of love or curiosity like in most stories, but rather fear that she’d be late for work, as the area was quite far from the office. After all, this is not that type of story. He caught up with her in about five minutes. He began to open his mouth to speak to tell her she'd be late, but immediately stopped when he noticed what she was doing. Her eyes seemed fixed on a strange spark of sorts. It was brilliant and sparkling, small as it was. She spoke to it in a language Stanley had never heard, and it began to grow, until it was large enough to walk through. Denise did so, seemingly unfazed by the sizable branch that came crashing down from a nearby tree. Stanley followed after her, with only a bit of hesitation.

There was a blinding flash of light, and Stanley awoke in a strange land, with strange colors, and strange people wearing strange clothes and singing strange songs. This was, of course, the exact opposite of what he wanted. Oftentimes, though, what one doesn’t want is sometimes what one needs.

It was then that he found Denise. He rushed toward her, but stopped himself when he noticed the serious look on her face. She seemed to be discussing something of great importance with a woman who looked equally as important. Stanley figured it would be rude to interrupt them, so he turned to leave, but then remembered that he had nowhere to go. The portal had closed, so waiting for Denise was the only option. After about five minutes of waiting, Stanley remembered that Denise didn’t even know he was there. Nobody knew he was there. Denise started walking back to where the portal once stood, and Stanley panicked and hid behind a tree. After all, he didn’t know how she would react if she knew he was there. He’d just follow after her once the portal was open, and she would never even have to know. Everything was going to be alright if he just stayed out of sight.

“Stanley!”

Oh well, so much for hiding.

“How did you know I was here?” he asked, obviously surprised.

“Behind a sapling isn’t exactly the most concealed hiding spot,” she said.

Of course, that was obvious to anyone who wasn’t on the verge of panicking. So in the case of Stanley, it wasn’t.

“Well, seeing as you’re here, there’s something I need you to do” she said.

Stanley’s mind began to race with the possibilities of what she might ask of him. What could he possibly do in a world he knew nothing about? Would it be dangerous? Denise probably wouldn’t ask him to do anything dangerous in the real world, but what about this one? Maybe the terrors considered commonplace here would be insane by his standards. Or maybe they wouldn’t be. But what if-

His thoughts were cut off by Denise, “Lady Elira, who I was speaking with before, wanted to speak with you.”

Stanley flinched, and Denise immediately rushed to finish her statement. “No, you don’t have to speak with her, I explained about your anxiety, and she understands. I can just relay her message. You see, there’s this quest-.”

Stanley had read enough stories to know that he wouldn’t like where this was going. Regardless, Denise began speaking again. “I mean, it’s technically my quest, but it’s vital that you aid me”

In another sort of story, Stanley would have immediately said yes out of honor or courage or some other such trait, but in reality, he needed a bit more convincing. When he asked her what he would have to do, she simply said “nothing much.” When he asked how dangerous it would be, she said “not at all.” But that didn’t quite seem to match how serious she seemed about it.

“What do I need to do?” he asked.

“Just wake up”

“What?”

“Wake up”

The colors of the world began to fade away, and suddenly Stanley was back in the park. His head was swollen and bleeding, and a tree branch lay next to him.

“Stanley, are you okay?” He heard a voice say. It was Denise.

“Why are you here?” he asked.

“I was just taking a quick walk before going back to work when I heard you shout. I rushed over to see if you were okay and saw that the branch had hit you.” she replied.

“What were you really doing here?”

“Like I said, I was taking a walk.”

“What about your quest?”

“Stanley, what on earth are you talking about? What quest?”

“Your quest from Lady Elira.”

“Stanley, you’re not making any sense.”

“Your quest. The one you needed my help with.”

“Stanley, the ambulance should be here soon. They can patch you up and help you recover from the shock you’re experiencing.”

“I’m not in shock, there really was a quest, and Lady Elira gave it to you, but you needed my help, and there was a portal and-”

“Stanley, there is no quest. There is no Lady Elira, and certainly no portals. This is not that type of story.”

That was the last thing she said before the sirens blared and the world went black.