Two roommates shared a small apartment in the heart of New York City. One roommate was a writer while the other was a model. Most of the time they got along fine, but one particular Wednesday evening, the model returned home very distraught.

“I went from one call to the next, and each client found something wrong with me. I was either too tall or too short, my neck was either too skinny or too fat. My shoulders are too narrow, and apparently I have a broad nose.”

“I really feel for you,” said the writer sarcastically, “Being good-looking must be very hard.”

“Thanks for understanding,” said the model, frustrated, “You know, I work really hard to look good. I spend three hours at the gym every day, and my trainer says I can only eat ten pieces of granola every meal, and a celery stick if I’m extra lucky. You can eat whatever you want.”

“I know. You’re right.” said the artist, “But you chose to make money off of your looks, so you have to be prepared to face the consequences. Some people might not like your looks. I, on the other hand, am trying to do something meaningful. I’m trying to write a book that will change the world.”

“But who says the world needs to change the way you want it to?” asked the model. “And what’s really the difference between me trying to make money off of my looks, and you trying to make money off of your ideas? We’re both just trying to work with what we have.”

“Words have the potential to sway thousands of people, for thousands of years,” said the writer.

“But a picture is worth a thousand words,” said the model. “Just like the subject of a Shakespeare sonnet, my looks could live on forever.”

“True, but you will still get older,” said the artist, “where will your looks take you in the long run?”

“I don’t know,” said the model. “Where will your words take you?”

“I don’t know,” said the artist.

“Should we order in some pizza?” asked the model.

“Sounds good to me,” said the artist.

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Written by Alex Schattner (10/26/12)

Tags: alex schattner, america, comedy, confidence, folklore, folktale, friendship, inspiration, roommates, short story, wisdom