Alex held up the new screen very carefully, like it might run away if he didn’t. It was white and square and wrapped in crinkly plastic that made excellent sneaky noises. In the middle was a clear window, just the right size for a face.
Alex put the screen in front of his eyes.
Suddenly, the hallway turned into a movie.
The door wasn’t just a door anymore, but the entrance to a secret base. The light on the ceiling became a spotlight. Mama walking past turned into a very important character who didn’t yet know she was in the scene.
Alex adjusted the angle. Directors always adjusted angles.
He walked around the house with the screen, filming everything with his eyes. The table was a mountain. The tablet was a treasure map. The sound of paper tearing somewhere felt like background music. He framed the kitchen, the floor, and his own feet. Every step felt planned, even when it wasn’t.
Then Alex stopped and looked through the screen at himself in the mirror. He made a serious face. Then a silly one. Then a spy face. All of them worked.
Later, he set the screen down and grabbed a pen. Some scenes were too good to forget. He didn’t know exactly what the story would be yet, all he knew was that it had already started.
Because once you change the way you look, everything becomes interesting.
“Sometimes all you need is a new frame to turn life into a story.”
