Again, with trust

The non-conformist with the stubborn, or perhaps determined, chin has been in the room for five seconds. If you were in the room, you would have already decided if you were going to be friends. You would have noticed the slightly slinking gait, the tip of the finger gently running along the cold stone. The pause before entering the chamber completely. But if you were in the room you would understand the strangeness of this place. When anyone enters the house of masks, memories are forgotten.

YAWN GREAT

The non-conformist with the stubborn chin knows this is not the first visit, knows that with each visit a new door is tried, though it may be a forgotten door is tried, knows that with each try is the hope that this is the door that will lead away from this place, perhaps back to the before, perhaps onto something new, anywhere but back to this chamber.

The non-conformist with the stubborn chin feels that friendship is the key to conquering the House of Masks. Every person will be approached as if they are, or will be, bffs. And if this approach has been used before it will not matter because this will be like it were the first time.

Like it were the first time reading the acrylic sign on the marble plinth: WELCOME TO THE HOUSE OF MASKS. TO ENTER YOU MUST REMOVE ALL ITEMS OF CLOTHING AND JEWELERY, AND DON THIS MASK. THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO TALKING OR MAKING ANY SOUNDS NOT SUITABLE TO THE ANIMAL REPRESENTED BY THE MASK. Like it were the first time, fondling the ears on the ASS mask, delaying a moment, scratching a second time at the base of the ear. Wonderful how realistic the ears feel, like they have a life of their own. LIke it were the first time undoing three buttons before pulling on the ASS mask and walking the perimeter of the chamber, stopping and peering into each arch as an ASS would then casually sauntering on. LIke it were the first time stripping off every item of clothing before padding about the perimeter of the chamber, stopping and peering into each as as an ASS would before sauntering on.

The naked non-conconformist with the ASS mask cautiously enters an arch, walks down a long corridor and steps into a room: a naked FOX and a naked LION turn silently, staring motionlessly, then the TANNOY announces: COME ONE COME ALL, FOR NOW BEGINS THE TALE OF THE ASS, THE FOX AND THE LION.