NYU DC VIOLETS I CREATIVE WRITING I Silly Olivia

By Kaylie Barreda

Olivia has always been told to put put the goop on every morning, afternoon, and

evening. No one ever told her why she had to put the goop on and she never questioned them.

Little Olivia just did as she was told.

Every morning she would wake up and put on the goop. She would only put a small

dollop of the goop. Secretly, she was still curious as to why she had to put it on in the first place;

but when she saw other kids doing it, she decided it must be normal.

She kept up the routine like clockwork. She’d stop everything she was doing just to lather

herself in the goop. It became natural.

By now, Olivia began anticipating when she could put more goop on. Her hands were

itching to scoop more goop, but she’d stop herself. Taking more was bad too.

Olivia became obsessed. Time wasn’t moving fast enough. She needed the goop like she

needed air. She had a new fear. Olivia feared the day she’d forget to put on the goop. She feared

what would happen.

As the days, the layers she applied got thicker. One scoop turned into multiple. You

couldn’t even see Olivia anymore.

It was then that she felt comfortable.

It was then that she was safe.

Everything was okay until one day, Olivia stuck her hand in the jar and there was no

more goop. Olivia gasped. This was it.

Olivia waited.

She waited and waited for the bad thing to arrive. She waited to see what she had spent so much

time being scared of.

Olivia closed her eyes.

When she opened them, she realized that nothing had changed. She was still okay.

Same ole silly Olivia was laughing again.

Only now she was covered in slime.

 

Art created by NYU DC Student Jess Valentine