Seven years ago, Ylvis brought the world a question: What Does the Fox Say?

Now, in the age of a Covid-19, Meg has a question: What does a grown-up wear?

The reason for the question was a job interview earlier this week. It was my first in quite a while, and I had gotten pretty used to my tank top and shorts uniform for the summer. Staring into my closet, I felt out of practice with over half of my options. Did I really used to wear these? Dresses and skirts seemed so formal. The shirts hung next to one another, in stark contrast to the pile of tank tops at the other end of the closet. I held different options in front of me, having vague memories of choosing…I think they were called outfits…before driving somewhere…

Once the clothes and jewelry were chosen, I realized another big decision loomed before my Zoom appointment. Where should I sit?!? In the olden days, interviews were in person so the worry was where to park and would I get lost on the way. With a Zoom video interview, I wasn’t going to the job, instead they were going to be “inside the house.” I debated various options including, but not limited to, a simple headboard and print provided by a bedroom wall, rearranging my kitchen to angle some plants behind me, standing in front of my door (the only totally white space in my home), or one of those fake Zoom backgrounds that vanishes your arm if you move too much. I finally settled on an angle in my living room that included race medals, two doors, and a fabulous purse with Princess Leia “Rebel” on it.

Perched on the edge of my cozy blue couch with a shirt bought at my friend’s consignment store, I was ready for my close-up.

“We are the spark, that will light the fire that’ll burn the First Order down” (Poe Dameron, Star Wars: The Last Jedi). – #52sparks is my year-long writing series for 2020, based on an art prompt challenge. The spark that lights a fire to toast a marshmallow or to ravage a forest begins in the space of an inch. This series is to explore what hundreds of inches and words can do.