Knock Knock, Open Wide

by Neil Sharpson

“That’s me. Just spinning around, wondering what side I’m going to land on,” said the girl. “I have no fucking clue what I am. It’s like, I see a cute guy and I’m like ‘yeah, okay’ and I see a cute girl and I’m like ‘yeah, okay.’ But never really any better than ‘okay,’ y’know? It’s like, I’m settling for guys and girls while I’m waiting for something better to come along.”

Ah, there was the word. “Family.” It was an old Irish word. It meant: “Do nothing. Challenge nothing. Change nothing.”

Knock, knock, let us in! Puckeen, take us for a spin! Knock, knock, open wide! Take us to the other side!

Aililiú, tá an poc ar buile, eh?”

She felt giddily happy, as euphoric as a child at a birthday party. She danced merrily around the set, leaving perfect red footprints on the white floor.