“Exploring life through fiction, together.”

In primary school, I added a letter to my name to avoid being called a girl. I hadn’t known the ‘e’ signified a penis, and I let my classmates shame me into conforming. Later, I became nonconformist on principle. Deep inside, there’s still the little boy who’d wanted to spell it ‘Jo’, until he got bullied by his friends.

Fiction Bite - A slice of the past

Helen had brought a pecan slice from the deli. It sat in a little white box in her hand, growing in weight as endless passengers came out of arrivals. She’d scan with every outflux, craning on tip-toes as she spotted a fluorescent pink crocheted hat that had to be Hetty’s, then sinking as it crested another’s head.

She knew the flight was late. She’d read the board enough times that the numbers danced across her vision when she blinked. But the minutes wallowed, and the cake grew heavier.

An announcement fuzzed over the loudspeakers. Was that her flight? A fresh wave of people splurged out. Coats and faces and shoes and noise and is that her in the back with the ponytail?

“Helen!”

She dropped off tip-toes and zoomed back to the scabby metal railing in front of her. On the other side, a plain-chino’d, stern-coated woman stared. Stared with Hetty’s face. What was her face doing in that outfit?

“Hetty?”

“It’s the clothes, isn’t it?”

Helen looked down. Hetty swore she’d never wear plain black shoes. Ok so they were drunk, and it was in college, but really? She held out the cardboard box.

“I brought your favourite, I think?”

Quote of the Week

“The reward for conformity is that everybody likes you except yourself.” — Rita Mae Brown

Book of the month

This is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and ‎Max Gladstone

Final Words

When I look through photos, I ache for the person I used to be. I’ve loved each iteration, and I’ve been embarrassed by most of them. Occasionally, I bump into people who’ve skipped a decade. We have an awkward, touching conversation as we recalibrate to our new selves, and often find not much has changed. Only the surface trappings.

When you look back, what versions of yourself stand out? Are there traits you’d like to bring back? Traits you’d like to forget? And who would you like to become next time? Let me know, I’d love to hear from you.

With Love,

Jo(e)

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