Dragon – Linh Tran
Drawn to the Chaos
Sam Hollingshead
A psychedelic mass of flashing lights snatched your attention. This store seemed no more than an eyesore, a mere sore thumb to the beautiful mountainous scenery all around you. An interruption. Confusion tore through your veins. No, rather it gushed from your veins. It was oil to a fire, a fire engulfed in the flames of curiosity. Your attempts to stroll by were to no avail. You were met with a pesky salesman, who struck up a pointless conversation in attempts to persuade you inside. Nonetheless, you were still intrigued. Why were you intrigued? This store could only be described as unnecessary. It was in no way something anyone would ever look to find. Yet, the store bustled with customers. There were specific instructions to press a doorbell for entry. It was a shock doorbell. You had been pranked. Other customers laughed at you as though you weren’t the first individual who underwent this seemingly stupid ritual.
The lights, the interruption, the salesman, the doorbell: it all puzzled you. Why was there a doorbell with the absence of a door? Was the store asking to be robbed wide open to anyone? Why were there seizure-inducing lights present among beautiful scenery? Who was this mystery salesman? Questions flooded your mind. The fire only intensified. As you trudged into the store for the first time, you were immediately accosted with welcomings and excessive acts of appreciation. These customers seemed almost accustomed to the abnormal state of the store. They chatted, laughed, and danced amongst themselves, sharing traditional Italian food dishes and enjoying the comfort of each other. The over enthusiastic workers expressed unparalleled friendliness. You flinched at the loud inconstant bangs and voices. A weird mixed playlist of bass bumping hip-hop and headache inducing grunge rock screamed over the loudspeakers. Bright flashing lights illuminated the establishment. A community was present amidst the absurdity.
Everytime you enter, you are confused and dazed. Everytime you leave, you are thankful that the fever dream is over. But everytime, you are thrilled to return. What were you missing?
Identifying this thriller only became possible with your repeated return to the store. With this, the store’s irregular environment became seemingly normal. The store’s welcoming nature fostered a genuine sense of connection. It began to attract you. It was an escape from reality. An escape from the seemingly endless seriousness of life. It all made sense, and as the store’s ridiculousness and irregularities gradually disappeared, and the fire began to dwindle, you found yourself as a loyal customer.