Previously: “I Work At A Family Entertainment Centre, And…”
This week, a bite-sized dystopian nightmare: The creepypasta “A Simple Man’s Dictionary,” a gem of a story set in a world where a mysterious entity called “the Board” governs everything. Written by Creepypasta Wiki user SaladTopping — formerly The Anonymous Crouton — and published in July of 2023, it’s short, definitely NOT sweet, and wonderfully eerie.
What I like about this one is how much is left to the reader to interpret — and how much of the story’s meaning hinges on what precisely that interpretation is. For instance, consider the “paint” that features so prominently in the latter half of the story. From where I’m sitting, the paint is… probably not paint. But if the paint is just paint, then the story that unfolds from there means something entirely different.
[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]
Both interpretations are valid. And the stories that result from each option are both quite frightening, indeed — just for different reasons.
If you dig the video game We Happy Few — or even BioShock, to some degree — or, of course, George Orwell’s 1984, this one is for you. Find an excerpt below, and check out the whole story here.
What’s your word of the day?
***
Sunday, June 10th
Normal.
That was the Board’s word of the day today.
I woke up. I walked to work. I walked back home. I went to bed.
Today was a good day.
Monday, June 11th
Isochronism.
That was the Board’s word of the day today.
Eternally progressing, Endless, Everlasting, Enduring. And yet, it maintains a steady beat, and has held it for eternity. Tick, tock, tick, tock; how has it persisted for so long? If only I was that obdurate.
Tuesday, June 12th
Monotony.
That was the Board’s word of the day today.
It’s always the same: wake up, walk to work, walk back home, go to bed. The world almost seems to taunt me with this monochrome existence. When will it end?
Wednesday, June 13th
Persistent.
That was the Board’s word of the day today.
“Why do we keep going? Life will come to an end for us all, so why bother?” Questions I ponder so often. They say it’s not healthy to ask these questions, but who cares? It’s not like it matters anymore.
Thursday, June 14th
Hobby.
That was the Board’s word of the day today.
Why am I still searching? I can’t find any activity that expresses my feelings. Walking through the city? Nothing. Climbing the Black Canyon? Nothing. I’ve done all of that, and the thrill is just… gone. I want something new. Something exciting.
***
Follow The Ghost In My Machine on Bluesky @GhostMachine13.bsky.social, Twitter @GhostMachine13, and Facebook @TheGhostInMyMachine. And for more games, don’t forget to check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available now from Chronicle Books!
[Photo via Monsterkoi/Pixabay]
