For Ernest Chimpingway there was no friend as faithful as a book – he had to know that for sure. It wasn't that he had a problem with other monkeys, because his way of making someone trustworthy was to dare to jump in at the deep end and take a chance. However, it was only when he was in the company of a book, often one he was writing, that he was truly himself.
Having a profound conversation with Ernest wasn't easy, and it wasn't because he wasn't a profound primate, which he very much was. Everyone who knew him better said he was like an iceberg, not in the sense that he was cold and dismissive of others, but because he showed at most a fraction of himself – like an iceberg where 90% of the mass was underwater and not visible. That may be because he spent a lot of time alone in the wild as a young apeling. Young Ernest learned to hunt, fish, and camp in the woods and lakes. These early experiences fueled a lifelong passion for outdoor adventures and living in remote or isolated areas. Unfortunately, there wasn't much interaction with other monkeys in these areas. So, when Ernest spoke, he used short sentences but vigorous language. Of course, this trait didn't sit well with many primates, but Ernest didn't care. In the absence of a book, this was just a good excuse for another whiskey and soda – he drank to make other monkeys more interesting. It was not for nothing that his favorite cocktail was called "Death in the Afternoon", a potent mixture of absinthe and champagne.
Despite everything, Ernest loved life. For him, every day was a new day, a day full of opportunities, although having lucky opportunities was better. Or rather, he preferred to be precise: When luck came, he was ready. He never thought about what he didn't have, but always about what he could do with what was there. At all times he was willing to give everything since life wasn't hard to manage when there was nothing to lose.
His speech had the character of a newspaper report, with very little context or interpretation, a minimalist style and focused on surface elements without discussing underlying issues. In turn, he applied this same approach to the things he was told. It started with daily conversations, like when he was sent grocery shopping and asked to "check the dates", he would come home with a box of fresh dates. At a garden party he was told to watch the briskets, Ernest did watch them – as they burnt. And when he organized a surprise party, he would surprise everyone by simply not showing up. Over time, his family and friends knew that they had to be careful when giving Ernest a task. Misunderstandings led to strange results like the inscription on his wife's wedding ring reading: "No thanks. I don't need it engraved."
As much as this trait caused him a lot of trouble in real life, it was the foundation of his writing style – and he was revered for it. Ernest had a strong influence on the younger generation of the monkey society. He believed that the deeper meaning of a story should not be apparent on the surface but should shine through implicitly. But to accomplish that feat, writing was a lonely life at best. Companionship would ease a writer's loneliness, but he doubted it would enhance his creations. The writer might grow in public as he loses his solitude, but the results often got worse. Courage was grace under pressure. So, Ernest faced his work alone, the good writer that he was, because in order to write about life, he had to live it first.
No Notifications
Affe mit Waffe Deprecated
