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When asked, the way one sometimes is, Ill admit that Im a kind of a Ringo.
Im probably a Charlotte too, but thats not quite right either.
Im less judgy than she is, for sure, and Im more squeamish than prudish.
Im a Capricorn, technically, but the thicket of flourishing astrology memes leaves me feeling confused rather thanseen.
(Or rather, you might, but it means something different now.)
This year I learned that what I really am is a Speckle.
And then theres Speckle.
Speckle is Berties boyfriend.
Hes a robin, also anthropomorphic.
But, most prominently, Speckle is very nice.
Ted Mosby fromHow I Met Your Mother.
Zachary Scrubbs fromScrubs(I think that was his name).
Theyre all kind of blandlynicewithout having any specificnicequality that I relate to or give a shot to embody.
And, more importantly, they arent messed up in ways that feel familiar, either.
He is excited by the domestic elements of his monogamous romantic relationship.
He legitimately enjoys and takes an interest in his partners important but complicated friendships.
Is that too much information?
But just as importantly, Speckle had a set of nice-person flaws that you dont often see depicted onscreen.
Speckle has almost too easy a time getting by.
(I get to be called that because Im such a good boy, he tells Bertie later.)
He receives an award for drawing a plume of smoke escaping a chimney.
I dont know … things seem okay to me.
Speckles problem isnt getting in his own head, its his difficulty getting into someone elses.
When things get bad, she withdraws, fearful of sharing her anxieties with her partner.
And Speckle isnt always the best at drawing things out of Bertie.
Its a very modern problem.
How do you ask for concessions from someone the world already drains of so much?
