In the Lives of Puppets

by T.J. Klune

“Why?” Nurse Ratched asked. “It seems illogical. Why did they not just speak to each other if they were lonely?” “They did,” Dad said. “Or they tried, at least. But they hated as much as they loved. They feared what they didn’t understand. Even as they built us, they pushed for more. And the further they went, the less control they had. They accused each other of treachery. They poisoned the earth. They had time to change their ways, but they didn’t. And their anger grew until it exploded in fire. Most of them died. But we remained, because our flesh wasn’t their flesh. Our bodies were not their bodies. Our minds weren’t their minds.” He shook his head. “And yet, I love them still.” He looked at Vic. “Because for all their faults, they created us. They gave us names. They loved us.” “How come we only have Vic?” Rambo asked. “Because we’re very lucky,” Dad said, patting his casing. “He’s not going to blow us up?” “No. I don’t think he will.” Dad smiled. “At least not on purpose. Look, Rambo. Heaven.”

“You were made to bring happiness. You are alive in ways we are not. You are soft and fragile. But you are complex and disturbing and sometimes foolishly brilliant. Yes, I think the wood will work.”

Making something out of nothing so the spaces between us do not seem so far.”

“Because all beings deserve a chance to find out what life could be when they don’t have to serve others.”

must be no greater feeling in the world than to know that this isn’t forever.”