special

you pretend the apples aren’t
bruised, peeling skin to reveal
mushy white flesh, never once
looking at me- french manicure
fading even though you were told
it would last weeks

from now, maybe I’ll remember
the tilt of sunlight on your soft pink hair 	
or the way your lip trembles 
as I take your peels, discard them 

as if it’s that easy
to forget us

You spawn upon a grassy rise.

Pink-fingered dusk creeps across the sky. Ahead, a cobbled path stretches towards the horizon. On three sides, the Dreadwoods scream your name. What do you do?

>> Follow the path

Are you serious? You bought a game called ‘No Guts No Gory’ and you're taking the path? Sheesh. Try again.

>> Inspect Dreadwoods

The Dreadwoods take their name seriously. You observe the twisted toothy branches, strung up skeletons and rivulets of blood-red sap. A gaping chasm opens in the pit of your stomach. You pat your abdomen and your hand slips straight inside! Your intestines wrap round your wrist in squelching knots and your liver pulses in your fingertips.

>> Pull out hand

Relax! It was a mirage. Now get your ass in there.

>> Enter Dreadwoods

You take charge of your destiny and stride towards the Dreadwoods. You're no chickenshit. As you enter, the last rays of sunlight fade and you glory in the opportunity to breach the cusp in full darkness. Your foot brushes a tendon trip-wire and a pile of bones drops from above, gifting you a macabre wig of carpals and metacarpals. What do you do?

>> Rip off bone wig. Dance like a madman and give thanks for this magnificent gift.

Well, Hallelujah. That completes the tutorial. What did you learn?

>> Go with it

Yep. Trust your instincts are against the nature of this game, and do the opposite.

Ready to play for keeps?

A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation.
— James Freeman Clarke (1810-1888)

Here is a complete, practical mental routine for the performer.
It requires a minimum of props and preparation.
The objects used may be carried in a small briefcase.
The tempo will mount as the action progresses.
The first feat will catch your spectators immediately.
Your last move will end on a dramatic high note.
You must practice until your performance is letter perfect in every detail as if it were second nature.

In order to fully invisibilize / first unlearn your story / Obsessional tendencies required / Now we see it / Now we don’t / Rifle through your glossary of / duck duck roll / Master countable ways / to orbit / to break the band / to barge through the screens / Sleight of hand / palm face cards / of wealth & whiteness / Nail nick / your sound bites Plunge daggers / into rag dolls / Look down / your nose / under velvet blindfolds / Command samples / of skins / to vanish / in your petrie dish / Shuffle whispering Jokers / Nurture top hat skills / of super psychometry / for divining facts / from cyborgs / Caress soft thighs / of social media / your lovely assistant / Giddy with abracadabra thrall / double down / way past / the far / as you / will go.

Everything will depend on your abilities as performer
for the Impresario who will build these feats to miraculous proportions
in the center ring of this once upon a nation.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is hatred?
➔ This is a loaded (there are many answers) question—one we’ve received fairly often recently. Hatred can be defined as the opposite of love (see addendum 6 for love’s definition.) Hatred isn’t the same as disliking (addendum 8) another—it’s when you grit your iron teeth, and wish to make scrap metal of them.

Why is hatred experienced?
➔ By now, you’re aware that we humans feel the need to have rational explanations for everything. A common diagnosis is jealousy (addendum 5.) Another is that you don’t understand the being, who they are, or their actions—hence, hatred is your natural instinct. However, as you also might know, not everything has a reason—hatred can fall beneath that umbrella (if confused, see addendum 4 for ‘Explanation of Metaphors’.)

How to dispose of hatred?
➔ According to the psychology department, to rid yourself of hatred, you have to understand why you feel it. Look at what is being done that infuriates you (see addendum 7 for more on anger.) Once you’ve pinpointed the reason, lead with empathy (addendum 2) and kindness (addendum 1.) It’s something most beings, humans definitely included, struggle with. Blood instead of walls has been shed because of hatred.

What if hatred doesn’t leave?
➔ Distance yourself from what evokes your hatred. If you find that difficult, because most are drawn to hatred, speak to your supervisor (unless they’re the reason; we can’t afford more incidents.)

For further guidance, please contact your assigned human therapist.