WEIRD FLASH FICTION

I, Manikin

A sad quest for self-actualization

Marcel during happier days. Photo by Mark Tulin

Marcel Hemp’s job as a clothing manikin made him depressed. It wasn’t that he didn’t like his boss or the customers. He was tired of having a frozen smile and wearing the same clothes.

He wanted to be a human. But since he couldn’t, he considered lighting himself on fire — but he feared his boss might…