Socrates said, “The misuse of language induces evil in the soul.” He wasn’t talking about grammar. To misuse language is to use it the way politicians and advertisers do, for profit, without taking responsibility for what the words mean. Language used as a means to get power or make money goes wrong: it lies. Language used as an end in itself, to sing a poem or tell a story, goes right, goes towards the truth.
A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what they say, how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls. Story-tellers and poets spend their lives learning that skill and art of using words well. And their words make the souls of their readers stronger, brighter, deeper.
So I work at a video game store in a mall and across the hall from us is this really nice suit shop. One day one of the guys came in an asked if they could use our microwave (the store they used to go to closed down) and we bargined for use of their bathroom in return since the mall bathrooms are like a 5 min trek.
So for like three months now we just have these men in really nice suits come in and talk while using our microwave and teach them about nerdy shit? Then I, the goblin king in various shitty tee shirts and paint stained pants, walk into their super expensive store and just get greeted with “Yo dude what’s good?” and talk about the pains of steaming silken dress shirts properly and it’s my favorite business interaction every day
A new jewelry store opened up right next to our store and when I used the bathroom today we were talking about it. I hate it on principle (they flooded our systems closet during building) and immediately both Suit Guys™ working went on mini rants. “Their suits are baggy as hell, I wouldn’t trust them to sell me a $9,000 ring when they can’t get a fitted jacket. They look so unprofessional, ” and “I saw one of the dude’s wearing a teal shirt. It’s fall, and you go with teal? At least get a color to match your store if you’re gonna ignore the seasons like that, Christ, but teal is awful.”
I must announce the pettiest update alive; due to some Mall Conflict™ (business fraternizing according to the Paul Blarts?? Unsure as of rn) our managers were forced to create ‘stricter boundaries’ until further notice. They are still using our microwave, but are no longer allowed in the shoebox that is our back room. We are kept from the bathroom until further notice, and all of us employees (bar the managers) have complained that this is too strict.
The ‘Their-Suits-Baggy’ guy agrees that it feels like our stores broke up and we’re caught in the cross fire, so all of us are being petulant children and insisting that this is ridiculous. He also said that being told he couldn’t be in the back room ‘made his heart hurt’ and every time I walk past the suit shop it feels like the penny whistle solo in My Heart Will Go On plays. We also now wave at each other through the window sadly since our visiting time has been cut in half, children in split parents style.
#letnerdsandfancypeoplebefriends
UpTHE RIFT HAS BEEN HEALED (as quoted by my Assistant Manager and work bestie). We are back to using their bathroom once more, we’ve been suffering without for weeks. Friendship prevailed my guys (victory selfie taken in reclaimed bathroom)
I love my trans brothers and sisters so much; you make me that much prouder to be who I am. Sometimes I remember just how happy I am to be able to even exist as myself so authentically in this world, and I think about our community and our resilience and our bravery and I feel like I owe you all my life. I seriously love you. ❤️
youlooksocuteinpajamas 