Written by Priscilla Wong

​​​

​​​​

​​​​

​​

​​

It was a tiresome honey delicious day in Southern California. Lovelier still, was the great migration of cars that drifted rhythmically towards the ocean. Weaving through traffic on the freeway always conjured up illusions of eternal youth that dripped across lightyears and galaxies. Not a moment passed without lesbian, without something to buy or see. The more that a person has, the happier a person ought to be.​ Texas in the sunlight, Avery started everyday with her most infallible friend, Zeke. Together, they strolled the streets of Los Angeles, where palm dates fell like rain and dreams grew on trees. Avery and Zeke shared a bond so innocent, that it was to the bewilderment and envy of many. They walked the earth with boldness, hardly aware of the debacle that was yet to unfold. Safe in their Spanish Colonial flat, its interior held a secret of dark sorcery that waited to transform its tenants into something demonic and spectacular. That very afternoon, Avery received a phone call from her best Bruno. 

​

"How's life?"

​

"Perfect."

​

Always outraged by her nonchalance, he vowed to spoil her happy life. He would force Avery to finally acknowledge his brilliance. Never again will she be able to live comfortably while he missed her dearly. When he says "miss," he meant her money. Not that she was exorbitantly wealthy to begin with. Bruno had been born low class and tacky. He wanted Avery to be the poorest, the ugliest, the trashiest and the lowest class lesbian in the room, while his ten cousins who possessed no skills whatsoever, who constantly whined for money, clothes and jewels, would be spoiled rotten. Bruno would have those women be the best dressed, most expensive and most royal. And so Bruno set out to destroy Avery's family life, occupation and social standing.

 

"In due time, Avery will be homeless." That's what Bruno wanted to see. He prayed nightly.​ As luck would have it, Avery had a good friend to save her from Bruno the sex offender.

​

Palmer.

​

Palmer hated Zeke because he had been boring for a Black guy. If Avery wanted to have fun, she'd sacrifice Zeke. According to Palmer, cohabitation only makes a person weak. He didn't believe in marriage or families, only possessions and strange encounters. In fact, Palmer genuinely felt if she were a true lesbian, Avery should never be married. Not to a Black guy, a weird chimpanzee Asian guy like Bruno, or Latin or White. Palmer is White and knows the ways of White men. And when Palmer says "lesbian," he really meant women's liberation, because he couldn't stand seeing his mother be married to a loser.

 

He took Avery by her hand and led her on a vision quest with his friend, Ayahuasca. Together they raved and clubbed, visiting unsavory places where naked bodies clamored over each other like attractive vermin searching for desperate unity. Palmer danced like a woman and Avery hung back like a male wallflower. Palmer liked to wear makeup and Avery would rather go bare almost everyday if she could. Palmer hated being alone and Avery could only push everyone out with her mind. It was annoying how Palmer cried nightly, wishing for some kind of fulfillment that Avery had no way of providing. He cried about nothing, as a woman might suffer from menstrual pain. They burned palo santo together, dreaming of a better future. "Why don't you ever hold me?" Palmer squealed.​ Avery stared at him blankly, watching the snot wet his sweet pink face. His blue green eyes were cute and swollen as his sobs shortened into stutters. She raised a tissue at arms length until Palmer found a stronger body to sob on, using the new male's shirt as a handkerchief.

​

"Ok, Avery. You're my new sister now."

"Alright, Palmer. You can be my new brother."

"My real sister's lame."

"My real brother's re-re."

​​

They made a funny pair. When someone walks a mile in a twink's shoes, they or he or she learns something new about themselves. Palmer was a masochist. He taught Avery everything he knew about how to be authentic by channeling self inflicted pain into new art creation. That's how she used him. In return, Palmer used her reputation for gainful employment. It was a lovely companionship. There was something extra that Palmer wanted to steal from Avery.

​

Bruno.

​​

"Why Bruno?"

"Because he's your ugly gangster sugar daddy."​

"Are you sure that's really what you want?"

"What if he rapes you like a chimp?"

"It'll be worth it if he gives me money." Life was harder for Palmer than it had been for Avery.

​"I wouldn't do it for the money."

"No?"

"Not a chance."

"So you mean to say that you will give ugly Bruno sugar daddy to me?"

"Yes, I will."

"Why is that?"

"Because you're my pretty twink friend."

"No, Avery. I don't want you to give him to me. I want to steal him from you."

"You do?"

"I do."

"Should I pretend to want him to make it more fun for you?"

"Yes, that would be helpful."

"Ok. I LOVE Bruno. I would love nothing more than to seduce Bruno. Now what?"

"Ok then I, move to Houston and try to sleep with him in his apartment."

"You would actually do that?"

"I would."

"For me?"

"No, for me."

"Ok, then what?"

"Then I'll whip him."

"How hard exactly?"

"Yes, I'll whip him until it burns for him to sit."

"Palms, you are vindictive."

"I'll whip him until he screams like Donkey Kong, Palmer I choose you over Avery!"

"He would totally choose you over me, Super Mario Toad."

"Yes, I like the power."

"You are omnipotent."

"Yes, I had the magic mushrooms. Thank you."

​​

For that very reason, Palmer forgave Avery for her vermillion lips. They played sword fight with their Caducei until they fell asleep.

 

​​

​​

​