It
runs eighteen minutes and twenty-two seconds. It begins with a girl on her knees.
Her hands are tied. She does not wear a blindfold.
A man says, What is your name.
She
swallows. She looks down at her hands.
The
man asks again. What's your name.
Greta,
she says.
That’s
pretty. What’s your last name Greta.
Tolbin,
she says. Her voice catches.
Keep
your head up, he says. Look at me. Where do you live.
In Burlington.
Don’t play games with me Greta. Where do you live.
323 Hardaway Lane.
Where do you go to school
St. Agnes.
Her lip quivers.
Please. I want to go home.
What
grade are you in.
Tenth. Please. I won't tell anyone. I swear.
No. No I know you won't Greta.
She lowers her head.
Greta. Look at me. You
know that game you see at the store. With the claw that you move up or down.
The girl whispers. Please.
It's a game. But it takes skill. The harder you work for the prize—
I
WANT TO GO HOME PLEASE
The more entitled you feel.
I WANT TO SEE MY MO—
The screen goes black. She does not wear a blindfold; she's still on her knees when it ends.
At eighteen minutes and twenty-two seconds, it's over.
Then it begins.