The service entrance
Who knew, who actually knew, there was a little sign to the left of the door confirming the House of Masks indeed has a service entrance, and standing at the service entrance door is a man. A slightly chubby casually dressed in blue man bringing nothing more than a note in a pocket, no wallet, no phone. The note is the directions to the service entrance, a handwritten note containing only directions, no greetings, no invitation.
The chubby man dressed in blue has a friendly face, a sales assistant’s smile that notices you approaching. A smile that will answer any questions you ask. A smile that makes you think you have met the person before. In fact you will be so confident you have met them before you might start your next sentence with: last time I was here you… This is the nature of being in service, this is the nature of the person who enjoys being in service.
The chubby man dressed in blue is a pleasure to meet, just as it is always a pleasure to meet someone who enjoys being in service, who wakes in the morning looking forward to the micro conversations during the sales transaction. The micro conversations that so easily flow into the anecdote form, ready to entertain colleagues in the pub at the end of the day or family and friends at the dinner table. Stubbornly unused anecdotes at the chubby man dressed in blue will only have the company of a tub of ice-cream this evening, as usual, not colleagues in the pub, not family, not friends. Ever willing at work, silent at home eating ice-cream watching true crime and other reality teevee.
The chubby man dressed in blue tells the chubby man dressed in blue in every mirror it is not so bad, this life is fine, chilled, relaxed. There is no need to strive, this easy life is the best choice: a short bus ride to work, dinner on the table, ice cream for dessert. No need to say more than a few witty comments, a little distraction, a little diversion. No need to open up feelings and desires, leave those be. It is best.
The chubby man dressed in blue opens the door without hesitation. It is the way to enter a service entrance, there is no need for hesitation in service.
Staff changing room
The chubby man dressed in blue walks down...
