The Monk

There is this guy in my creative writing class who i call The Monk. Usually i am a little hesitant with religious people especially those who kind of where it on their sleeves. I think it has to do with my fear of being judged, and having someone tell me i am going to hell because i don't go to church or read the bible is not my idea of a good time.

Though i am still not a very religious peron i do respect some of those who are generally into the stuff, especially if it gives them to tools to be a better person. This is how The Monk is, he's my age but is one of those hippie orthodox religious dude, with curly hair and a beard. He is soft spoken, wears these brown boats every time i see him, and is a English major with a minor in religious studies.

There is something gentle about him, the way he walks, talks and interacts with the people in our class. If anything, i was hoping he would be in my short story workshop group, cause he's pleasant to be around.

And luckily he got paired with me and some other people.

His first story was called the Monk and the Artist. To sum it up quickly a monk encounters a girl in a dark alley who is troubled and needs help, but she keeps denying his help because she is against religion. However the monk is persistent, and she finds her faith in life again.

It was completely corny and sweet, but because i like him i was not too harsh on him during workshop. I simply suggested that relationships in general are a lot more complex, and it's okay in writing to have your characters be angry, sexual, frustrated because that's what makes them real. I felt the monk should have been questioning his faith more (for some reason, maybe he has desires outside of the church) and that the artist should have been more complex.

I wrote a long suggestion on his paper, because the story had potential as long as he added more conflict between them.

He seemed to listen to my suggestions and i didn't think i was too harsh.

Because we have to write two short stories the monk had to turn in another story this week. He emailed us (the workshop group) his 2nd story of the semester yesterda and we are going to go over it tomorrow in class.

I don't know if he took my suggestions to heart, or perhaps he was approaching his new story differently...but my sweet dear monk wrote the most sexually explicit story i have read in a while!!!!!

Oh he inserted some conflict, along with masturbating mistresses and hardons. I had the unfortunate pleasure of reading this story at work, and my face was so embarrassed that i had to take breaks to get through the damn thing.

The story is a little cliche but here's the plot: a married man sets up a "meeting" with an old flame in a hotel. He is not happy in his marriage, and is looking for a lay. At the hotel with the mistress he contemplates why is there, questioning his morals in the process. The mistress, a very sexual vixen who must represent carnal sin, taunts him with her sexuality.

At the end, he decides he loves his wife despite their problems, and has made a mistake. THE END.

It wouldn't have been so bad if phrases like " I could still get hard" , "fingering herself" and my favorite "Do you think you need to get inside me to let go of her" weren't in it.

Holy Mother of Saint Theresa. I have been corrupted by a monk. I need a long shower after this one. I have no idea why there is so much explicit (almost) sex in it , but i was and still am very uncomfortable with the story.

I feel dirty, very dirty. No more suggestions from me.