dream to trace the basil animal

i've lived my life as a fake.
because i couldn't draw - i'd trace animals through baking paper.
because i wasn't funny - i would memorise comics' sketches and recite them to my friends.
because i wasn't tall - i would wear high-heeled red shoes.
because i wasn't happy - i would smile all the time.

only bad writing starts by recounting a dream, basil said.

i could pretend i didn't know that - because i'm good at pretending.
pretending i'm working, while i listen to the voices on the cd's that i play.
pretending i'm learning, when i'm looking at her hair or her clothes.
pretending i know someone named basil - because i can't think of any other way to use the word. :)