“Most of the people you see going to work today are LARPing (live-action role playing) an incredibly boring RPG (role-playing game) called "professionalism" that requires them to alter their vocabulary, posture, eating habits, facial expressions--every detail all the way down to what they allow themselves to find funny.”
― Cory Doctorow, In Real Life

So, today is my sister's birthday. Of course, we have to have a surprise party for her. After all, you only turn 40 once, right? Unless the Buddhists are right, and then it doesn't matter anyway. But I digress. It's a little awkward for me to be involved in any of this, because I am from a different planet than my sister and her friends. I am smart, determined, successful, dependable, artistic, funny... you know, everything a reasonable person tries to be. My sister, on the other hand... I don't even know where to begin.

Where have you gone mother dear? You left me so far behind.
The touch of your hand, the sound of your voice is ever on my mind.
Do you think of us, oh mother dear, still struggling here on Earth?
Or have you forgotten all of these things since your Heavenly birth?

It was my sixth birthday, I was getting ready for my party when my sixteen-year-old sister, Cassie, came in and she said "Mom and dad are going to the store to pick up your birthday cake and I have to watch you until they get back." My mom and dad had only been gone an hour but I didn't think anything of it because my friends were starting to show up for the party.

On a summer afternoon,
Sitting quietly in his room
Monte, playing with his toys
Games, intended just for boys
Got so bored soon playing alone,
Being there just on his own.