(Auto)Biography of a Pen
This will not be like any other story of a pen. Before coming to a little autobiography of my own, I'm sure you have read plenty of the similar kind.
I was not any fancy fountain pen like Mr. Mont Blanc, Sir Parker, Duke Sheaffer or Master Waterman. I was just one little blue ball pen, born in the Papermate Kilometrico factory in Malaysia. I was sold to your friendly local bookstore, Popular, located in ONE UTAMA. I know, solded a little bit too fancy, I was actually bought in a bulk, of thousands.
If you take a stroll to where I was placed, the pen corner, you will find many other pens like Pilot G-2. Stabilo, Staedtler etc. They come in different designs, colours, technology or whatever. Unlike my little tribe, we are available in Red, Blue, Black, and fat (medium), fit (fine), thin (x-fine).
The reason you can buy me for 70 cents is not because I'm CHEAP! Okay, I maybe below average price, but i could last to the very end. I can keep on going writing the same old story for a thousand times! Well, not exactly thousand but maybe fifty times. Let us come back to the 70 cents story. The reason you can get me for such a bargain, is because of mass production. A story of capitalism.
Every capitalist aims to maximize profit and minimize cost. Producing in mass, bulk volume and hiring illegal immigrants to stuff us into packaging really helped. Not to mention zero welfare for the workers and extra long working hours without compensation. Furthermore, low graded plastics which are hazardous to health and the environment, they really make good material for my body. Do not forget, danger is my middle name. Who cares what the environmentalists think, it is all about saving every dime. Besides, without all these exploitation, you are not going to get me for such a low price, so that you could save up to go on a date with the girl from the class next door.
Anyway, I was never the chosen one by my little master. There was never any Tom, Dick and Harry to begin with. Who would ever, in reality, stand in front of a shelf of pen, thinking who they would fall in love with and spend their rest of their student life with a PEN? I was just picked up, had my cap opened and tested on a blank. If it works, it means I am hired. If not, do you think I'll be telling you such a lovely tale?
Every story has to come to an end, so does a pen. My brother, Kilometrico medium point Blue, will tell you another story. My life is ending soon, after writing all sorts of nonsense. At least, I got a chance to leave an autobiography before my life ends.
Vocabulary
Capitalism- An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market
Capitalist- A person who has capital, esp. extensive capital, invested in business enterprises
Environmentalist- Any person who advocates or works to protect the air, water, animals, plants, and other natural resources from pollution or its effects
