This is a short story about sympathy. You can read it here. tIt was the ninth installation of my mail art project “This Is What I Can Do”. I mailed a printed copy of the story in a little booklet form, accompanied by a feather made of wire, masking tape and paint.

When I had to give up fine art in 2016 due to worsening tremors I decided to instead practice writing. I in fact ended up writing and illustrating a picture book for the Museum of Modern Art (you can see it here). But in 2024 when I had to go on the medication Primidone, a barbiturate, I stopped being able to write. Being on a heavy dose of Primidone is like being slightly stoned all the time.

But during the project “This Is What I Can Do” I had set myself the task of trying as many things as possible, so one day I tried writing. I wrote a little story, edited it, and that evening looked at my computer, stunned.

What is it like, to have your abilities come and go? It’s like someone playing peek-a-boo with Superman and kryptonite. It’s like this:

Nemesis lifts the lid of a box containing kryptonite, Superman’s only weakness: Superman recoils in horror. ‘Aw man,’ Nemesis laughs, ‘look at your face! Look how weak you are!’ Closes box: ‘I’m joking, I’ll put it away.’ Opens box: ‘Ha ha, tricked you!’ Closes box: ‘No no, just kidding, I’m putting it away for real this time.’ Opens lid up wide: ‘Psych!’ 

Superman, gathering all his remaining strength, slaps Nemesis across the face.