I’m a sucker for a fizzy drink.

I know they’re not good for me. I know they cause me damage in so many ways. I know my teeth and my stomach and my blood glucose will all regret it once the fizz has all washed down. But I just can’t help myself. Every so often, I have no choice but to give into temptation and grab myself a can or a bottle of the sweet fizzy stuff.

It usually begins at the start of the week. I feel a bit dry, a bit low in energy. But at this stage I’m still strong. I’m able to defy the need for fizz and get on with things. I may try to distract myself with some fruit and water, to capture both the liquid and the sweet aspects of the craving. It works, at least at first.

However, as the week progresses, my will starts to weaken. Fruit and water might be good but after I while they no longer do the trick. I can feel my strength slowly wavering as the temptation grows stronger and stronger. And walking past the vending machine that sells cans at a price considerably below the regular retail doesn’t help a bit. I know that eventually I’m not going to be able to help myself. Sooner or later I’m going to give in to the craving. I’m going to slip my gold coins into the slot and pull out a big shiny can of that fizzy stuff. And then I’m going to take a big sip – aaahhhh!

That does taste good, at least for a short time. I know that by the time I finish, I’ll have forgotten what the attraction was. My stomach will feel heavy and I’ll have gas stuck in my windpipe, bursting to break out at the most inappropriate time. For a while, I’ll wonder why I succumbed to the craving.

And then it will all begin again.

I suppose a little bit of fizz is a good thing to have in your life. It makes the world sparkle and shine, and gives you some bounce and energy. The real trick is to try and maintain that sparkle, and not have it drain away like that fizzy drink.

I know that’s something I always try to do with my stories. I want that fizz to grip you by the tonsils with the very first sip, but I don’t want it to let up. I want it to fill you with energy and sparkle, from the very first word to the very last. I want it to fizz you up so much that when you get to the end, you just want to get back to the start and read it again.

I never know if I achieve my goal. But in the meantime, I suppose I can always go and get another fizzy drink.