SOL

It’s Like a Big Circle Catholic mass requires a lot of pomp and circumstance. Candles and statues and more candles and more statues and robes and dishes and bottles. Someone has to make that pomp and circumstance happen, and in eighth grade, I was in charge of all the things that made a church feel “churchy”. It got weird one day. Broken Handles, Broken Ribs, Broken Lines I slowly raise my head as my eyes clear. I’m tied to a pole, enclosed within the castle walls. Where am I? The sun is setting over a horizon, but my skin has been burnt to a crisp. I’ve been out here a while. I hear a bell ring out. The doors in front of me swing open, guards surrounding me in a circle while two stand at my side, untying me from the stake. I’m dragged through the threshold of the first door, and we stop at a second set of much thinner doors. I could hear muffled conversation and laughter from the other side. Was I being taken into a dinner party? We are All Sweating Profusely Expense reports are due at noon today. I’m typing feverishly at my camp in this random cafe, here on business. I hate these trips, but it’s good money. I hear the bell from the door tinkle and look up. That is the oddest looking man I’ve ever seen. And he’s walking right towards me.