By Peter J.
Mandy brushed back her bleached blonde hair. She slanted her tattooed eyebrows. She layered on mascara and thick fake eyelashes, perfecting the clumpy look. She lipsticked and glossed her pouting lips.
This one had to be perfect. They all had to be. Each one was important. They all needed to be special, attention-grabbing. They all competed amongst themselves for the most attention, the same way Mandy used them to compete with others.
She pursed her lips, squinting slightly in what was supposed to be an attractive way.
This was it, she was ready, it was time.
Snap.
Mandy took a selfie.
Great surprise ending, Carinna! Caught me completely unawares. Great job!
Thank you very much, Bobby!
I suppose I should have seen this coming but – not! Very nice, realistically drawn and a total surprise! Nice.
Thank you very much, Sue!
Very creative, Led me to the conclusion effortlessly.
Thank you, Jimmy!
I particularly like the way you have turned the social – cosmetic appeal to others – inward to the self. The idea of making oneself beautiful in order to have that beautiful self look back at you from your photo library is a real social phenomenon. The essential “you” disappears amid all of the more compelling empirical versions of you. I don’t know if it’s a sad reality or not, but it is a reality.
Once again, Carinna, you have captured an entire world in 101 words.
Thank you as always Smila! We do lose ourselves in what we would like to be, that is certainly true. The more we try to be better, prettier, skinnier- the more we lose of our true selves. Thank you again as always for your insightful praise and comments. 🙂
The importance of the selfie. Excellent.
Thanks!