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Austin R. Pick<br />
haps you’d like to participate in a survey with me.” It is not a question.<br />
“Chastity” I ask. Rebecca giggles. We are seated back-to-back, legs<br />
buckled, on my apartment floor. Rebecca wishes to survey me. It is her<br />
newest experiment.<br />
“Lets get started. Are you the head of the household, sir”<br />
“Who is this How did you get this number”<br />
“Stay in character!” Rebecca yelps, pushing against me.<br />
“I am in character,” I say. Something is stirring in me. I feel light headed,<br />
almost giddy. Our closeness is exhilarating. “And yes, I suppose I am<br />
the head of this household.”<br />
“Great. Okay, next question. How many family members are currently<br />
ambidextrous”<br />
“With the hands or the feet” I reply, cleverly.<br />
“Oh, that’s good.” Rebecca says, making a note. “Let’s go with hands,<br />
for now.”<br />
“In that case, there was a rumor about an uncle of mine, but nothing<br />
I can confirm.”<br />
“That’s fine. Now then, how many scars or imperfectly healed wounds<br />
do you possess, and how did you obtain them”<br />
“What kind of questionnaire is this, young lady” I bark, striving to<br />
sound indignant. Rebecca sighs delightedly, bubbling over.<br />
“It’s a survey of minor disfigurements and unusual abilities. I wrote<br />
it myself. I also have questions about sunspots, warts, protuberant moles,<br />
lazy eyes, oddly shaped toes and extra teeth. A lot of people have them.”<br />
“Which ones”<br />
“I’ve started slipping the questions in during other surveys. It’s really<br />
interesting what people will divulge. I often tell them stuff about me<br />
too, as I go along. Candor makes them comfortable. I’m collecting all<br />
the statistics. And if it’s going well then I always ask if they have an innie<br />
or an outie. That’s one of my favorites.”<br />
“Which one constitutes a disfigurement” I ask, sliding a hand to my<br />
belly.<br />
“Well, neither. It’s just interesting. So far innies are much more common.<br />
I’m wondering if there’s a correlation to personality type, but it’s<br />
sort of a work in progress.”<br />
“Do you inquire about psychic powers” I have certain concerns about<br />
psychic powers.<br />
tahoma literary review 57