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Emotion 365: The land of Anxiety, the capitol of Social Ease

The denizens of Anxiety splish-splash through the shining shallow waters. Muck coats the tops of their socks.

 “Be careful. Watch out. It gets deeper here, and there!” the Guide warns.

"No one in Anxiety can swim," says Miss Emeline Traveler. "They fear deep water and also there isn’t any.”

As they plunge through the water, silt stirs and covers their feet.

“It’s impossible to see one’s feet or find one’s way,” says the Guide.

“What lies below?” asks Miss Doe Friend.

“Water worms,” says the Guide.

"I still have mud stains on my socks and petticoats from Anxiety," says Doe.

The denizens wash their clothes in the cleaner water at the edge of Anxiety.

"The shining waters of Anxiety are beautiful. It felt like walking on water,” Miss Emeline Traveler says.

"I did not have that same experience as Miss Emeline," writes Miss Doe Friend. "It was rather dreadful. I did bring home a bottle of the lotus perfume and a picture of the lotus pond. Many come to Anxiety for meditation retreats and leave with these souvenirs."

"No visitors are allowed in the capitol of Anxiety, Social Ease," says Miss Emeline Traveler. "There are exceptions, but a long list of requirements must be met before a visa can be granted so it is rarely granted. Social Ease is where the Anxieties go for vacation. Here they wear long soft flowing robes in dark colors. No skin shows. The streets are clean and bare. The shop doors are kept open. Water flows from fountains, but the streets and stairways are dry. I climbed to the vine-covered top of the Social Ease tower overlooking beautiful Anxiety, a land covered in smooth shining water dotted with blooming lotuses. I inhaled deeply that sweet perfume. At night there is dancing and everyone knows the intricate steps. The inhabitants of Social Ease are very familiar. They link elbows and hold hands and put their arms around each other shoulders in camaraderie."

"You look quite relaxed," says Miss Doe Friend. "It was good for you."

Miss Traveler was granted a visa to visit Social Ease, while Miss Doe Friend and Amma-Pom were not.

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