Janice

     I can’t remember the last time I saw Janice, but I could swear that she was a man… A boy.. ’Should be a man by now. But that incredulous way in which she—er, he—carried himself... now proved to be—in the least—an offset premonition. But whose?..Did he-she know, or even do any planning? Who knows really?.. I know I do, but it’s a given. The given of all “givens” right? But still, I was thoroughly surprised and I couldn’t imagine thinking back in time to a few somewhat intimate moments. Did I do something wrong? Judas Priest; I hope not. I’m not capable of those activities.. At least not when it goes past amusing myself.. That doesn’t mean anything—does it?.. No, it can’t. I’m just a jerk.. Or funny. It depends on who you are. But Janice… now flagrantly flaunting all of her—er, his—newfound splendor… couldn’t be quieted. Janice had become so bold, so confident since the “transformation”. But which transformation?.. I think you and I both know that it doesn’t matter. But not just a “stronger” person had she—agh he—become; but now also, something of a rebel. All of a sudden there had to be certain provisions made for Janice. But why?... Because of a personal mistake—er, choice?.. (Mistake really).. Either way, everyone suddenly began laying out red carpets for Janice and her-his what?.. Handicap? Innovation? Courage? Whatever it was, it was ill-born and now—still—ill-fed. But everyone has to jump on right? It’s “hip”. It’s “with the times”. But what kind of real credibility does such a thing have these days anyway? I know I don’t buy it; but then maybe you don’t buy me—so who cares?... Oh right… Anyway. Janice has been causing a fuss and practically trying to convert everybody. But if we do it then we’re all bigots right? Now how is that fair? Janice is getting away with murder and it’s miraculously being condoned.. Who are these people with the robes on?... Is there some factory deep in the heart of Janice from which they are produced?.. It seems there is no end; and it seems that we will lose and Janice will win—but only here on Earth… It’s been recorded by something which makes Janice seem a mere insect—the true sum.. I’m not worried.. I’m disgusted, but not worried… Janice will protest and recruit for however long her—his rather—time permits; but what is that? Ultimately, nothing.. It’s like that whole maybe winning the battle but not the war, thing.. If even that.. But I feel sorry for Janice.. She—er, he—just couldn’t get ahold of what he longed for.. Maybe it’s not fair.. but "that’s life".. Yeah, I’m tired of that one too..

Vincent J. Vera