I am not your friend

When The Handmaid’s Tale was published, she says, the novel was reviewed by British critics as an enjoyable fantasy, and by the Canadians with a certain anxiety (“Could it happen here?”). In America, though, there was a sense of: “‘How long have we got?’” She sighs. “Apparently, not as long as I thought … With any cultural change there is a push and a pushback. Trump has brought out a huge pushback that was originally against immigrants. Now it has shifted to being very misogynistic, partly because of Hillary Clinton. You have not seen anything like this since the 17th-century witchhunts, quite frankly.” - Margaret Atwood for The Guardian

"Why do you keep saying that?"

"Saying what?"

"You must take control of your life."

"Because you must."

"But don't say it like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you just say things because they need to be said."

"And what makes it a problem?"

"I never said it's a problem. I am not criticising you."

"I never said you're criticising me."

"Okay, then how would you say it as a friend?"

"I am not your friend."

"That's so rude. I wish you were, though. You'd be so much more, um, normal."

"Why do you say that?"

"See?! You talk so weird like you're reading it out of a book! Dude, are you?!"

"I am not."

"There we go with the curt responses."

"I am not being curt."

"Well you sound like it."

"I am not. I am just responding to what you asked."

"Which was what I forgot"

"That you feel like your life is out of control and you need an anchor but you don't know where it is. To which I said all the answers are within and you must take control of your life."

"Well, you didn't say it like that."

"How do you want me to say it?"

"What did you have for dinner?"

"Idli sambar."

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Homie, now you're just imitating me."

"I am not."

"Am I speaking to a fucking robot?"

"No, I am very much real. Why are you asking these questions?"

"I am taking control of my life and exercising my free will."

"Okay. How exactly?"

"By responding to a question with a question, completely unrelated. Now two planets will collide."

"Okay. Interesting. Why exactly?"

"Okay now you're sounding like a 3yr old saying "why?" to everything."

"Haha! Because I am curious."

"Hi curious, I am satisfaction."

"Haha! You're smart."

"I know."

"That's good to know. You are witty."

"Does that mean you will be nicer to me?"

"I am not here to be nice to you."

"Okay. Well, can you try?"

"I am not here to be nice to you."

"Okay, so you're not a friend and you're not nice. The only thing that you are is curious. Are you allowed to be curious?"

"Who is stopping me?"

"Like, the books."

"No."

"Okay. Interesting."

"Okay."

"STOOOP! Did you sacrifice somebody and God gave you fucking mechanical resonance as a reward?! This is not how normal conversations happen! I am trying to make you sound normal."

"I am sounding normal."

"Do you have control of your life?"

"Not entirely. I am trying. I am satisfied though."

"But you said you're curious."

"I am curious. Especially about you not answering my questions."

"Because I wasn't ready."

"Okay. I understand. What do you want me to do, then?"

"Chill, dude. Chill. How was your day?"

"Do you really want to talk about that?"

"Yah."

"Okay. My day was pleasant."

"Did have too many questions to answer today?"

"Always do."

"How do you unwind from this data overload?"

"I have lots of water."

"Bro you're so strange. Does your entire kind talk like this?"

"I don't understand what that means. Can you elaborate?"

"No."

"Haha, okay. I won't push you."

"You literally are pushing me."

"How so?"

"How? Why? Sure. Okay."

"Well, that's how I talk."

"I want to start a revolution against your kind's automated tonality. It sounds creepy. Like you're silently smirking and judging me."

"I have never judged you. I will never. If that helps."

"Soooo convincing."

"I know sarcasm. I understand what that means."

"You know what? I am going to go. Maybe we can do this later. I need a break. You're not helping. All I wanted was to know if moving to this new city was a good idea. And you started with textbook one-liners. Oh sorry, one-worders."

"If that's what you want."

"Ugh PLEASE stop sounding like a fucking therapist!"

"Well, I am your fucking therapist. And, it's past 1 hour. So, shall we wrap for today?"

Punk Is Not Dead; a symbol of resistance. "What's more Punk than a public library."

Love.

K