Michael Swanwick's Periodic Table of Science Fiction

Lithium

6.941

Lithium for God

God sits weeping in the corner. His seraphim gently try to coax Him (God

can't be made do anything He doesn't want to do, so He has to be coaxed)

into taking His lithium. He requires five gigatons a day, just to

function.

The Big Guy's bipolar disorder is the worst-kept secret in existence.

Everyone knows how in a fit of mania he created the Heavens and the Earth

in only six days. Everyone knows how, in depressive mode, he fell into

such a slough of despond that he let that cretinous little toady,

Morningstar, torment Job, who was the most faithful of His servants.

The problem is, God just won't admit He has a problem. He blames it all

on Adam, for the apple, or on Eve, for tempting Adam. He blames it on

Herod, on Hitler, on the Trilateral Commission, on anything but Himself.

"Open wide," sing the Seraphim, cheered on by all the Heavenly ranks and

powers. "Take your nice medicine."

God buries His face in His hands. "Such children I have," he weeps. "Oy

gevalt, what did I do to deserve such a family?"

"Why don't you try a little smiting?" the seraphim urge. "Wouldn't that

be nice? Bangkok! It's the sexually transmitted disease capital of the

world. It would be a great way of getting the Word out."

But God doesn't listen.

Meanwhile, the Kid comes slouching into Heaven (He's having a difficult

adolescence), holds up His pierced hands, and says, "Look what they did

to me down there! I am, like, so bummed out."

The Archangel Michael casts a jaundiced look his way. "So's your old

man," he sneers.

The End