closed until further notice

You should know we're closed right now and you should know we've been this way for a while and we will be so for some time now. Can't figure out though when exactly it happened... can't really put our finger on it. There must have been signs, they just weren't seen by the right people at the right time. It was probably a gradual thing... just happened one layer at a time. 'Cause there are layers you know. It's not just eyes closed, mouth closed, ears closed. Noooo... it's more than that. I'm pretty sure the eyes, ears, mouth are actually open somewhere in there, just covered up really good.

The layers... don't know the order exactly... but there are

• bubble wrap layers, the kind you pop when you're bored and are supposed to keep you safe,
• aluminum layers that are supposed to keep you warm, or cold,
• layers with feathers, so it's soft and nothing hurts, and you just don't feel much,
• layers with pockets where you can loose or hide things,
• onion layers, the kind that make you cry if you break or cut them,
• layers with locks so that no one can get in unless they have the key,
• layers with one way looking windows so you can look outside, but can't be seen,
• lead layers so it's hard to move around,
• paper layers, so there's something people leave messages on,
• layers with mirrors where you can go look for yourself in your eyes,
• glass layers so you must be careful not to break,
• dusty layers where things are put to hopefully be forgotten,
• layers with edges and corners so nothing goes smoothly,
• layers with hedgehogs to keep the noisy ones out,
• and there's a nice shiny colorful layer of wrapping paper with a big red bow covering it all up.
  

So we're closed, for whatever reason, and you should stay out and away. You may knock gently, once; you may leave a message for me, myself or I. Don't push, don't go round the windows hoping to catch a glimpse, don't scream an shout and beg trying to get in. If you do that, the second you cross the line, you will find the hedgehogs, and they're a mean bunch of fellows. Don't be fooled by the nice bow on top, go away, don't stand there waiting for something that might never open back.