Sting Point:
An interview with an anonymous mosquito

by T Newfields

This interview was conducted in a filthy street in Taipei on Oct. 3, 1999. The mosquito being interviewed, a 3 mm creature, preferred to remain anonymous. When questioned deeply about some of her statements, she simply flew away.
Int.: How many people have you been close to?
Anon.: (shrugging) I never count.
Int.: What do you like most about approaching someone, then sticking your proboscis under their skin?
Anon.: It's a sort of intimacy, I suppose.
Int.: Don't you worry about disease?
Anon.: Not really. Insect life is short. Human life is not much longer.
Int.: So tell me a bit about your background.
Anon.: I grew up in an industrial sewer and wriggled around for a while, then popped out of the water in mid-summer. And hey, here I am!
Int.: When did you get your wings?
Anon.: I'm no angel. When I left the water, they just appeared. Okay, I had to let go of my former self. However, that is not hard to do. That is the advantage of being small and knowing it.
Int.: What's your goal in life?
Anon.: Survival. Sometimes I feel like I'm just part of a giant food chain and don't really matter. However, life has its moments of satisfaction: I have slurped some very rich blood.
Int.: How do you handle humans?
Anon.: Simple. Keep away during the day, then attack at night. Darkness is my ally. Who can resist warm flesh?
Int.: Do you feel optimistic about the future?
Anon.: Yes and no. Life is dark and savage, but somehow insects always stay on top. Why? Ironically, because we're at the bottom. It's an interesting paradox.
Int.: Any final message?
Anon.: Even though life sucks, don't worry. Stick to your point. And don't get trapped in any webs. Finally, watch out for bird-brains – they often swoop down and trying to scoop up more than they can actually handle.