GRAPP

I wrote this story in high school as well as submitted it to my college newspaper. I originally wanted to create a story that was the opposite of Transcendentalist ideas, but I don't think I did this correctly. I called it "Grapp" because I wanted to create a name for a non-existent space drug. Personally, I think this is the best short story I've ever produced mostly because it's finished and I actually published it. I hope I can write more stories but I don't know what to do. Anyway, Enjoy.

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            In the world of the future, humans encounter new, outside, races. These races were friendly to the humans of the future. They brought gifts to the human’s world. Valuables rare trinkets, object of glory, new cultures, enlightenment, stories of brave exploits, legends of other worlds beyond any eyes, and most of all, GRAPP. GRAPP, a substance that brought eternal bliss to all who come upon it. GRAPP was the ultimate power, more valuable than any precious metal. Humans were attracted to it like the teenagers of the past to illegal substances. Yes, the more humans had GRAPP, the more they craved the unknown item. In truth, though, GRAPP is never ingested or snorted but the sheep presence of GRAPP compelled all who were natives of the human world. The Outer Races exploited the humans for this mindless addiction, having them perform menial tasks for the acute chance to gaze upon the ultimate beauty. No cruelty, no beatings, no violence came from the aliens themselves, but they shattered the dignity of the humans, leaving them to there unwilling obsession. The Humans constantly fought to the death for the power of GRAPP. Human leaders warred with one another, making desperate struggles to get the Outer Race to favor their side. Seemingly endless war of addiction, the killing of helpless victims to the force of GRAPP, who would take the substance? Bloodshed for preciousness! Death for bliss!! Struggle for GRAPP!!! The Outers didn’t understand the deadly conflict, they just spectated the deadly conflict. They laughed at the idea of an inferior planet fighting for something so easily obtainable! They laughed at the women murdering their own children for the alien’s ultimate gift. They laughed at how men far men will go to gain their unsightly, little burden! They laughed, they laughed, they laughed! The years flew by, the humans killed their own kind, attacked their own kind, struggled against their own kind, for GRAPP. FOR GRAPP!! The Outer Races Laughed at the stupid killing, jeered at the stupid attacks, snickered at the stupid human’s struggle, for GRAPP. FOR GRAPP!! The Outers were fully amused, they believed their welcome was under stayed but they grew bored. The humans cried at their foolishness. They have left nothing for themselves, nothing for their future, their struggle led them nowhere. The human’s helpless addiction lead them to a pit of sorrow and dead. Their stupidity left them nothing! The Outer Race took silent pity, they sneered at the fools, loaded their ships with all the gifts they gave in the past, especially the ultimate preciousness of GRAPP. The Outers made one last joke at the humans expense, and left them to endure their preventable hardship. The Outer Races flew in their ships, flying away from a Human world that now has nothing.