04. Overstuffed
It’s probably best to keep it on.
The Girl touches her face, now shielded by a piece of paper.
The mask sits awkwardly, straining to hold on. “Lift your head, scrunch your nose, puff your cheeks. That’s how you keep it in place,” she recites to herself.
It works. Nobody looks twice.
Up ahead, a long line twists and winds into the horizon. She stands on her toes, but all she sees are figures with long ears.
“Why is everyone lining up?” she asks.
A Goodbunny turns around, smiling from ear to ear. “I’ve been here all morning waiting to find out. It must be something wonderful!”
“I want something wonderful too.” She joins the line.
“Would you like some?” The friendly stranger reaches into its belly and pulls out a puff of fluff.
Without skipping a beat, it sings, “One for you, one for me…” A puff in her hand, a puff in its mouth. “One for you, one for me…” The pile grows faster and faster. The fluff presses against her, swallowing her up.
“One for… Oops! I got carried away!” it chuckles.
It scoops up the ginormous cloud and stuffs it back into itself, pushing through the bursting seams.
“No worries, I’ll save some for you.”
Wide-eyed, the Girl forces her mouth shut and looks at what’s left in her hand. She takes a nibble. Sweet, then gone. Another nibble, poof, gone.
With each mouthful, her head floats a little.
A rosy glow washes over.
The chatter thins to a hum.
The horizon tips.
She wakes up on the floor. The line is gone, and so is her new friend. The warm ground hugs her and murmurs, “Stay, just a little longer.”
She rubs her eyes.
All around, the others have gone droopy. Long ears flopping, shoulders melting, blissful beings pooling under the setting sun. A puddle blinks at her. She pulls herself up. The ground holds on, sighs, and yields.
She makes her way home. Careful not to step in the puddles. By her door, the floor is solid again. Her mask is mushy, the smile has run. She hangs it with the others.
“I’ll make a new one tomorrow…” She falls asleep before she can finish the thought.
