MONTY BENFICA | Amusements | CONTACT
A local full-time son/part-time creative inner-city man has celebrated the 5th birthday of the book in his tote bag that he still hasn’t gotten around to reading.
“It’s a huge day for little Recky, AKA Requiem for the American Dream by Noam Chomsky, paperback edition,” said Merlin Sykes (29).
Like many inner-city men, Merlin uses a quirky tote bag around town in an attempt to disarm himself as a straight white man.
The tote bag has also served as a safe home for the only book he’s ever purchased, a book he originally planned to read in public to set himself ahead of the other guys at the local park.
“It was ambitious, I know. It’s been 5 years now, but it doesn’t mean I’m never going to read the thing. You never know, haha,” Merlin explained.
Merlin celebrated his book’s 5th birthday by enjoying a natural wine in the park, with his book front and center for any potential love interests to see.
“It’s all about the vibes,” he said, adjusting his beanie and taking a slow sip from his glass, looking around to see if anyone might notice the Chomsky title peeking out of the tote.
“You know, it’s not just about reading it—it’s about being the kind of person who might one day read it.”
Merlin’s friends, meanwhile, have long since stopped asking whether he’s finished the book.
“Honestly, we gave up on him years ago,” said fellow park-goer and creative director Zoe Trask (32).
“He talks a big game, but at this point, it’s basically part of his persona. If he actually read it, what would he have left?”
The book, now essentially a prop in Merlin’s carefully curated urban aesthetic, has become a symbol of unattainable self-improvement.
“It’s like a metaphor for everything, really,” Merlin mused. “You set these goals, but life gets in the way. Maybe one day I’ll read it, or maybe I’ll just buy a new tote bag and start all over again.”
