“Smile.”

“Why?”

“Because it is your job.”

“But I do not feel like smiling.”

“Nobody does. Act. Put on a mask and smile.”

          “Smile.”

          “Why?”

          “Because that is how you form social interaction.”

          “We form bonds through lies? Wrap ourselves in deception to deceive the deceiver?”

          “Yes.”

          “What about reality? The truth?”

          “Truth is what the masses believe. If everyone is fake it becomes reality.”

                    “Smile.”

                    “Why?”

                    “Because you are having your photo taken.”

                    “So I must grin like a fool?”

                    “It is a moment locked in time forever. You must look happy.”

                    “Like a wax model? Constructed by others? Locked in falseness forever?”

                    “Wax and photographs last while flesh rots to dirt.”

                    “I surrender to opinion.”

                    “Cheese.”

                              So I must smile. Wear the face that is kept in a jar by the door.

                              Coat up in my imitation leather jacket and synthetic shirt,

                              Walk among the dyed hair, bottled tan and altered bodies.

                              Eat the processed meat and drink the juice untouched by fruit,

                              See the reality shows that could be from another universe.

                              I question life and life questions me. I question myself.

                              You can do anything you want in life if you try.

                              That is what they say as you are forced through school,

                              Forced into a job that you hate. Forced to grow old and die.

                              I use to watch the wildlife from my window as a child.

                              Rabbits ran through hills, frogs swam through ponds and I smiled.

                              Then the bulldozers came. Nature was replaced with housing

                              And left me stranded in a sea of humanity.

                    “Smile.”

                    “Why?”

                    “Because you are alive.”

                    “A smile is just muscles that are used to express emotion.”

                    “Do you not feel happy?”

                    “I am happy. There is no need to express it every second though.”

                    “That is what is expected of you.”

                    “I do not understand.”

                    “Good. We are making progress.”

          “Smile.”

          “Why?”

          “Because the world is watching.”

          “Watching what?”

          “You, me, and everything. Nothing.

          “But I am unimportant.”

          “That is why you have no right to frown.”

“Smile.”

“Why?”

“Because I have told you to.”

“I am my own man. I will be passive because I am free.”

“You will smile because you are a puppet of society.”