The Wealth of The Rich And The Wealth of The Poor: A Short Story!
When I was asked to write a short story about wealth I was stuck for AGES. No inspiration would come at all. Then, after talking to a friend about it on the phone, I realized what I wanted to say. I went away to collect my thoughts and a few days later I starting to write. It went well. I thought it was good until I got to the ending. I just couldn’t get it as I wished. What came out didn’t seem perfect, but it was close enough. So I kept it. Therefore I hope you enjoy a tale of…
The Wealth Of The Rich And The Wealth Of The Poor.
By Hetty Monksea.
Oriana sat down and wondered. What would have happened if I had never made that bet? Would I still be where I am today? She thought to herself. Her mind drifted back to three weeks earlier…
Oriana was with her best friend Dilys in the park. She was just telling Dilys how she’d won a bet with her friend Ruby and Oriana concluded that she never lost a bet. Dilys grinned.
“Alright,” she told Oriana. “I’m going to test that right now. I bet you all of my chocolate stash that wealth isn’t all about money.”
Now, I want readers to bear in mind that financially Dilys’ family were poor.
“And I bet you all of my chocolate stash that wealth is definitely all about money,” retorted Oriana.
And I also wish readers to bear in mind that financially Oriana’s family were wealthy. The two best friends shook hands firmly but warmly.
“I know!” cried Dilys. “Let’s host a competition to see whose idea wins! We each gather as many people as possible and each one of us will propose our theory. We then let the public vote.” Oriana nodded thoughtfully.
“Ok, you’re on Dilys!” They both smiled confidently. They then grabbed their phones to tell everyone on social media about it, and try to get as many people on-side as they could…
On the day of the event itself, a huge crowd gathered around two tables acting as a platform on Library Park. On one table stood Oriana; papers to hand and reciting lines in her head. On table two was Dilys; her papers by her feet, and taking in the beautiful glow of the afternoon. In between the two tables stood Mr. Knightley; the girls’ head teacher. He would count and register the number of votes. He held up a microphone and spoke into it loudly to be heard above the hubbub of the people.
“Hello there, Comberton and guests! I present to you Oriana Lucas and Dilys Bowen on the debate of What is Wealth?”
The crowd cheered gaily.
“You know the rules. Once both sides of the argument have been told, you must vote your opinion! This event is being live streamed online so that other members of the public can vote on social media. I will now hand over the microphone to Oriana,” Mr. Knightley told the assembled crowd.
Oriana took a deep and shaky breath, then she collected herself and spoke as clearly as she could.
“Hey. Ok, so some of you must agree with me that wealth is about: money, coins, and expenses. It is basically a fact that when we say that someone is wealthy or rich, we mean that they have lots of money.”
The gathered people either cried their agreement or jeered sneering comments.
“Who cares what others say! We should go with what we know inside is right! The truth! That wealth is, was, and shall always be about money.” And here Oriana concluded her statement.
Mr. Knightley allowed for a pause, while people twitted and tweeted about their thoughts. Then he handed the microphone over to Dilys who was as composed as a victim who has accepted their fate and is determined to go as brave as a soldier. She knew she could win this and she would do it wisely. Dilys gently opened her mouth and spoke softly; which caught peoples’ attention.
She said “My people of today and tomorrow. I can assure you that wealth is not all about money. It is about possession. Why, if you look up the word in the Concise Oxford Dictionary it clearly states that wealth is: riches, or abundant possessions. That doesn’t necessarily mean money! I could have a wealth of food, for example. Or even a wealth of joy or happiness.
Throughout history, this has always been the case. Wealth could be measured by the number of slaves or servants that you had; even how many wives or kids! This counted just as much as the gold or silver that one owned. Spices too, or sugar was sometimes priceless. Salt, or fine fabrics could be as expensive as money for those who couldn’t easily access them. You might even say that the wealth of the rich is money, and the wealth of the poor is love.”
Oriana felt that Dilys was having a dig at her and she flinched.
“And to conclude,” Dilys continued. “I leave you with this one question: what even is it to be rich or to be poor?”
And Dilys Bowen bowed. Oriana felt numb as a collective cheer rose from the crowd. She had lost. She knew it already. She felt that there was no need for a count but she let Mr. Knightley do so anyway. The results were in. Mr. Knightley stood on the tables next to Oriana and Dilys.
“The scores are as follows,” he told everyone. “Out of the fifty five people here, five have voted for Oriana and fifty have voted for Dilys. As for the online viewers,” here he waved at one of the cameras. “Fifty have voted for Dilys and five have voted for Oriana. Here by crowning Dilys the winner!”
The crowd erupted into applause. Oriana felt detached from her body. She was looking down at herself from the heavens. As if she were her own guardian angel. She’d lost! Lost the vote and lost the bet. Lost her chocolate stash. Lost her belief in herself. And she was angry; very angry. It was the helpless anger that came when there was no one to blame. The anger that blinds people from reason. Tears of frustration; rage, and hurt rolled down Oriana’s cheeks as she ran through the crowd.
The people jeered. Pointing at her and shouting rude words. People booing. People sneering. Oriana covered her ears as she tore through them in a desperate attempt to block it all out. It was in vain. She would never forget those whispers. Never forget the feeling of rejection. Or how evil a mob can turn…
The next day Dilys came round. Oriana had answered the door. Her smile disappeared when she saw who it was.
“Come for your prize then?” Oriana said it coldly. “Come in and I’ll get it for you Miss Winner.”
Dilys followed Oriana inside but spoke not a word. Oriana fetched the bundle of chocolates and tossed them passively at Dilys. She caught them with ease. She then looked Oriana deep in the eyes.
“Thank you.” She said it clearly and very meaningfully. Oriana gave a stiff nod of the head.
“You’re welcome,” she replied haughtily. Dilys gave a sigh.
“Look,” she told Oriana. “You were wrong.” Oriana snorted.
“Yeah, thanks for rubbing it in,” she said.
“No, just listen. You were wrong, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t change,” said Dilys encouragingly. Oriana let out a groan.
“But how? How can I possibly change Dil?”
“Let me teach you Ori,” said Dilys hopefully. Oriana rolled her eyes.
“Alright,” she said, her smile returning at last. And that’s exactly what happened.
And here I now am! Oriana thought happily to herself.
The End!
