2021 was the year of the Grand Masked Ball. We learned our steps from our masked Masters of Ceremonies, just as the year before, the steps changing with the tune, which changed often, and we danced gaily in our masks, yet with unnameable sorrow hidden behind the delightful deceit of pretence.
We danced as children in the safe hands of our trusted guardians. Father knows best! Yes, they knew best, they knew the steps, they played the music, and we danced and danced and danced!
Those who danced out of step became such a nuisance. They heard a different music. And they refused the mask. How dare they! What obscenity to show your mouth! Cover yourself!!
As more and more chose naked facial obscenity over decorum, we shunned them from the dance floor. Begone foul breathers! After a time, we made fences to keep them out. The floor was ours, dancing our Grand Masked Ball together! Oh, how we danced!
It came to pass that some of us, like marionettes, our strings would fail and suddenly we dropped to the ground unable to dance. Our guardians, our protector puppeteers, our concert masters turned away as we slid from our mortal shells. Keep dancing! came the call. And how we danced!
It became awkward to step over the lifeless marionettes that began to litter the floor, but still we danced. Brave ushers took them away to be hidden from the floor never to be seen again. And on we danced!
Screams were heard from those suffering unbearable pain but the music only became louder, its meter so firm, we danced as if it would never end. Throw those screaming fools over the fence!
As the year came to a close, the music became a march. Now we were marching! Oh, what power we felt as we all marched together, our masks one with our faces! Now there is only the mask and we are all marching towards the coming year, towards our salvation! Towards our freedom!
Victory is ours! We shall overcome the dirty unclean! We shall be rid of them! Death to the unclean! And our feet rose higher and higher as we marched!
Hail victory! Hail victory! Hail victory!
Beautifully choreographed elision from synchronized dancing to goose-stepping—and I love the masked impressionistic painting! Bravo for another satirical triumph, Navyo.