the ten-year-old
saw the barrel standing by the wall
and leapt into it
expecting only shadow to sink into
something warm and sticky received him
startled, he could not help but gasp
and whatever oozed into his mouth
heavily worked its way into his lungs
he tried to thrash, to push back to the surface
but could barely move
he prayed as much as he dared
and the blue lady from Pinocchio
seemed to touch his forehead
he tried so hard to tell her
to ask assistance
but whatever he'd inhaled dragged him
even away from that
he closed his eyes and trusted her
she held his hand
and he and she lifted from the barrel
into whatever realm unrealities like them go
she set him down on the floor there
blue lady-lets wiped him down
poured something on him that expelled whatever
and poured off leaving him cleaner than ever
he frowned and asked
"this isn't really real is it?"
the blue lady smiled
the saddest smile he'd ever seen
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