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The Semi-retired Louse
Random inspiration: semi-retired louse
AI-generated painting and story
The story
Bernard had retired from active infestation after thirty-two years on the same scalp, though he still kept his union card and a subscription to *Parasite Weekly*. Today, he was catching up on the lice labor negotiations while waiting for the tea to steep—a ritual he’d adopted since the humans started washing their hair less often. The cardigan was a gift from his niece, who insisted he ‘look presentable’ even in retirement. He didn’t mind the quiet. The attic was warm, the light was soft, and for once, no one was scratching.
The brief
A single louse sits upright on a frayed armchair cushion in a dim attic, one leg crossed over the other, wearing a tiny knitted cardigan and reading a newspaper by the weak glow of a bare bulb, dust motes hanging motionless in the stale air.
The painting and the story were written from this same scene, so the two describe one moment.
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