FLIES
Aleksander Berezkin
I don't like this romantic false idea that suffering purifies you, that it makes you a noble person. It does not! It makes you do anything to survive.
Slavoj Žižek, "Refugees, Terror and other Troubles with the Neighbors" [1]
It is important to know what flies eat so you can remove conditions that are conducive to fly infestations. Adult flies feed and harvest their larvae on organic decaying material. This includes, fruit, vegetables, meat, animal, plant secretions, and human feces [2].
There is a diary that was found in the personal belongings of the refugee (No. 4829538391). Gender: transgender. Age: 21 years. This person arrived at the camp in December 201X. Immigration case: the case is being considered for deportation. The current location of the refugee is not known.
Tuesday, December 13, 201X.
I finally saw Paris. It breathes easily. Easy frost. I put on my mother's green dress and my old jacket. It's so lovely to walk around the city where no one is looking at you. While I was buying a croissant, a pleasant young man complimented me, "Merde." I need to learn French.
Friday, December 16, 201X
Habib said that I shouldn't wear a dress. I dishonor the honor of our people. Stuffy. There are 5 people in our room — all men. You can only go to the dining room. It is not recommended to leave the city for a long time. You can't work. On Monday, I'm meeting with the officer in my case. I hope everything will be okay.
Wednesday, December 21, 201X
The officer asked why my lips and fingers were cut up. I said that I was clumsy. And I fell. He smiled. If Habib finds out...
Thursday, December 22, 201X
The officer said that my hearing was adjourned until next July. I must learn French. I must get to know the culture of a new country. Must, always, must? I asked the officer if they could find me another place. Answer: No, there are so many such as you.
Thursday, December 23, 201X
Habib threatened me with a knife. He said that if I would not be his girl, and bring money to "our house," he would tell everyone about me. Scary. He gave some pills. He said I need it for my nerves. Bastard. I feel better. I miss my doggie.
February 5, 201 ...
I am out of the pills again. I need to go to Paris. The girls said that it's disgusting to give a blow job the first time, and then you get used to it. But I can wear a dress and those fishnet stockings, I saw them yesterday. I can get 300 euros for one hour. And I can get more If I will do it without a condom. Scary. But I'm exhausted. I want to live in a city.
I love Habib. I don't care. I missed a meeting with an officer. I am learning to enjoy my new life in France. My dream has come true.
***
…The lifespan of a fly is quite short. The average housefly lifespan is about three months. Because flies have so many predators, like humans, their average lifespan is reduced. But just because their lifespan is short that doesn't mean their population is at risk. A female fly can lay up to 900 eggs in her lifetime[3].
I always feel this stench of an unwashed body. The sickening smell of sweat and sewage clogs your nostrils. You get used to it. You get used to everything. At least you're not alone here. There is a 3-year-old boy. They brought him from El Paso yesterday. He is still calling his mother. He hopes his mother will come for him. I don't hope. I am 12 years old. I am an adult.
When I feel completely sick, I raise my head and look at the ceiling. There are large blade fans slowly wave their wings as if they want to fly away from here. They buzz all day and all night. And their humming calms me. And I'm not alone. I have already made friends with other girls. We try to take care of the kids. Who wouldn't do it if not us?
Others come only in the morning and in the evening. They bring food: soda, cookies, and oatmeal. I hate the taste of Coca-Cola in my mouth! Each time I get sick of this cookie, but there is nothing more. I try to swallow without chewing, squinting as if I'm drinking a bitter medicine over and over again.
Teresa, my little sister, often cries. She is still a baby; she will be 2 years old tomorrow. She always asks about mom. And I tell her that mom is working, but when she is free, she will come and take us. Then Theresa asks me to sing our favorite song. I pick her up and quietly sing in her ear:
We are mother's little birds
We learn to fly
Blue sky above us
And God's grace.
We open wings
Fly over the rainbow
And we meet mom
And we tell her
We are your little birds.
Then Teresa begins to laugh, and I cry. But every time I cry less and less.
***
…Flies can be a nuisance pest for homes and businesses. A fly infestation could pose a serious health risk. If you want to prevent flies, there are some practical steps you can take to deter them. Some of these methods are totally cost-free and only require your time for action[4]…
Dialog via text messages in the New York subway:
- Hey. I'll be late at work today.
- What's happened? Traffic?
- An immigrant stood waiting for the train, and then suddenly threw himself under the carriage.
- Hmm. What are the police doing? How did you know that he was an immigrant?
- He looked like he had arrived in the city yesterday. I still noticed on the platform his sloppy look. And he mumbled something. I guess he was sick.
- I see. Listen, it could be a long time. Can you take Uber?
- Great idea! Thanks. See you soon. Bye.
-Bye.
[1] Annalisa Merelli, “Marxist philosopher Slavoj Žižek explains why we shouldn’t pity or romanticize refugees”, Quartz, accessed September 15, 2019, https://qz.com/767751/marxist-philosopher-slavoj-zizek-on-europes-refugee-crisis-the-left-is-wrong-to-pity-and-romanticize-migrants/
[2] “What do flies eat and drink?”, Ehrlich, accessed September 15, 2019, https://www.jcehrlich.com/flies/what-do-flies-eat/
[3] “Flies life circle”, Ehrlich, accessed September 15, 2019, accessed September 15, 2019, https://www.jcehrlich.com/flies/fly-life-cycle/
[4] “How to keep flies away”, Ehrlich, accessed September 15, 2019, accessed September 15, 2019, https://www.jcehrlich.com/flies/how-to-keep-flies-away/
Aleksander Berezkin, intersex queer (47xxy), was born in Russia in 1984. After getting a BA in Sociology at Kemerovo State University, he worked as an Assistant Professor in Social Science at Federal Eastern University in 2007-2014 in Vladivostok. As an LGBTI activist, he faced with homophobic campaign organized against him in local mass media in 2014. Due to gay propaganda law, he was fired from the university, and he had to seek political asylum as an LBGTI activist in the USA. He continued his activism as a Founder and a Director of the Association of the Russian Speaking Intersex People till 2018. During 2015-2018, Aleksander was a Consultant for collaborating with the UN program; Free and Equal; Program of Public Health at the Open Society Foundation. Currently, Aleksander lives in New York, where he is pursuing MS in Nonprofit Management at the New School. Also, he studies narrative fairytale therapy based on Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell's approaches for his creative writing for social changes.