Tube
I refuse to eat. You can call it a stupid protest, but what other control do I have? So I try to refuse their food. But it does no good. It never does any good. They feed me through a tube, into my nose. I can't stop them. They're much stronger than me. Bigger. Not nice food. Never nice food. Scraps and crumbs. Dirt. They keep me in the dark, locked in a cupboard, cowering. No light gets in until the door is opened and I get dragged out to work, doing all the cleaning they are too lazy to do. Then back in the cupboard. If its so bad why do I smile? If I smile maybe they'll like me, take pity. Maybe they'll stop. Now I don't know how to do anything else. I've thought about ending it all, going out in an explosion of sparks and smoke, but I don't have the guts. Not for me. It would be easy for me. One big final swansong then an eternity of peace. No, its for my sister. I'm big and still have some of my strength, but Henrietta? She's smaller, more fragile. She would never cope, so I keep on working, smiling, shivering in the corner. She deserves better and as long as I can keep cleaning for them Henrietta is safe, in the electrical appliance shop, in her cardboard box.



