It’s the middle of November and I’m trudging through three feet of snow because, much to my dismay, bodies don’t just bury themselves.

Anger, the social distancing.

Fighting, hey, I love it.

Your flesh in my fingers,

Your tongue on my floor.

Jeez, it’s great.

Refreshing, actually.

Take your last breath.

Carving a Q on your chest.

Look at that, I’m an artist!

The puppets are swinging around.

Dancing in their lonely cubbies.

Dad, there’s poison in that cup.

Hey dad? I said there’s—

Meet my boyfriend.

I call him birdy.

See how pretty?

I like a good Adam’s Apple.

I wonder if I tore it out

— sorry, manners—

If I _cut_ it out, would you live?

Lets see, pulling you in.

Death on my breath.

It’s hot in here,

One foot in the grave.

Guy, I love you.

You’re gunna be with me—

Well, forever.

Isn’t that fun?

Why so sad?

Come here,

I forgot I taped up your lips.

Where’s the knife?

I can take it off.

Don’t panic,

No really.

Stay still!

Oops…

Now I told you not to move, guy.

And you moved, guy.

Are you trying to make me mad?

Are you trying to make me mad, guy?

Pulling at your eyelids,

Peeling off your skin.

Crouched beside you,

Blood down my fingers.

It’s rolling, we’re rolling.

I’m a superstar, guy.

Would you look at us!

I’ll never forget this moment.

I’m a rockstar, guy.

Hold on. Hold on.

I’m not done,

Keep breathing.

Hey.

Do what I told you.

I’m the boss now.

I’m in control.

Chest goes still.

Well. Now what? …

S’pose bodies don’t bury

_Themselves._

Just give me a minute to think.

Well. That’s unfortunate.

Played with my birdy too hard.

Broke its wings plum off.

PLUM OFF, I SAID!

Boy oh boy.

Now what?

Let’s think.

Momma told me bury them.

A fish with its mouth shut

Never gets caught.

I won’t get in trouble.

This is the cycle of life.

Predator and prey.

Let’s pray.

Amen.

I’m decent.

In the sheet you go.

Pulling long tracks in the snow.

You’re _dead_ weight.

You’re dead- _wait_.

I’m confused.

Where are we?

I guess we came far enough.

Drop you on a bed of white.

It’s chilly, even for the dead.

Now you’re all hard and stiff.

Look at those limbs, like boards.

I once saw a dead dog on the road.

It was like this, and I got in trouble.

Because I took it home, you know.

Apparently it was dirty and tired.

And dead… Dead too, I know.

Momma didn’t mention that.

I think I broke it, guy.

What was your name again?

I touch him with my shovel.

Answer me, guy.

And his head just fell off.

I didn’t even touch him that hard.

I don’t know. I don’t like this guy.

Too easy, he’s a boy like a bird.

I want one like a tiger.

One that’ll fight back.

Hard to keep quiet.

Deep brown eyes.

One that’ll fill my appetite.

One that looks a little like _him_.