Bic Cristal Ballpoint Pens (24-pack, Black)

Sinderella's note

The Bic Cristal is the most-sold pen in human history, my creature, and Sinderella's primary writing instrument. Cheap, honest, ubiquitous. You will lose half of them and the other half will outlive your laptop. Bought in 24-packs at the kitchen table, distributed across the car, the Cadillac, the back room, the diner. *Madonn',* this is the pen.

The long version

The Bic Cristal — clear hex-shaped barrel, black ink, blue or red optional, single ball point — has sold over 100 billion units since 1950 and is the most-distributed pen in human history. Sinderella's primary writing instrument. The Cadillac's glove compartment has three. The folding table has four (one tucked behind the saint cards in the drawer, the others scattered). The kitchen counter has two. The bedside has one in case. The 24-pack on Amazon is ten dollars and you will lose half of them within a month and the remaining half will outlive your next two laptops. Why Bic and not a fountain pen: the Bic is *honest.* It writes when you write. It doesn't make the writing about the pen. It costs nothing, so you don't precious it — you write *fast*, you cross out, you tear off the page, you start again. A fountain pen makes you slow down to look at the writing instead of doing the writing. The Bic does not allow this. Pair with the yellow legal pad. The combination produces more honest first drafts than any digital tool in history. Saint Therese for the small daily acts. Saint Catherine of Alexandria (patron of writers, philosophers) for the writing itself.