The Opposite Of Washing Machine

I know this woman. I will call her ‘G.’

“I wish there was a machine,” G told me,
“a kind of opposite washing machine
that I could put myself in like clean clothes
and get something like washed, rinsed, spun around—
whatever the opposite of those are—
and come out all creased, smelly and filthy.
I want an appliance that will wreck me,
turn me into garbage to be thrown out.
I’m smart. You’re smart. Help me build this machine,
the opposite of a washing machine,
because I want to throw myself away,
all creased, stained and torn, too filthy even
to give away to one of those thrift stores.”

“No, I’m not going to do that,” I said.
“You know, the book Frankenstein was written
by a woman. In the book the monster
was sad and angry he was a monster.”

G laughed. “That novel was written,” she said,
“hundreds of years ago. Women back then
couldn’t say what they were really thinking.
Sometimes, in fact, they said the opposite.
In today’s world I can say what I think.
Help me build this machine that will turn me
into garbage. Or make me a monster
if you can only use your metaphor.”

“No, I’m not going to do that,” I said.

She smiled and looked all coy and attractive.
“Help me,” she said. “You know somebody will.
If you help me you can write about it.”

“No, I’m not going to do that,” I said.
“It’s not the kind of thing I write about.
In fact I’d say kind of the opposite.”

I almost never walk past the castle.

G and her friends bought lots of equipment
and at night there are bright flashes of light
where they’re trying to build her strange machine.

She sends me e-mails now and then. Updates.
I delete them without opening them.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .



The Other Way Of Making A Frankenstein’s Monster


Return To The Other Way Of Making A Frankenstein’s Monster




The Zombie Issue Destroyed Their Friendship


Sara’s Zombie Quest Disgusted Jenny


Zombie Sara Terrorized Jenny From The Start


Zombie Sara Made Jenny Question Their Past


Zombie Sara’s Zombie Urges Destroyed Her World


Jenny Paid Her Respects At Sara’s Grave