be happiness itself.

Vogue Italia Sept 1999 ‘X Couture’ - Malgosia Bela by Steven Klein

Matteo Pugliese.

When childishness was imposed upon me by other adults, it was absolutely intolerable. I can still recall the excruciating despair of being forced to sit on some mall Santa’s lap by my grandmother. I wasn’t afraid of him—I knew he was just some guy in a costume and that he wasn’t going to hurt me. My distress came from having to perform the part of a child… I’d sit on his lap, no problem, but being expected to act as though I thought this was somehow different from sitting on any other random man’s lap offended me. My grandmother delightedly interpreted my resentment as adorable childish fear to be soothed with comforting words and reassurance that he wouldn’t hurt me. I knew that! That wasn’t why I was upset! I was choking only the spectacle being made of my innocence.

via baileyycooper

California Revealed via Internet Archive

PS: if you liked this, there’s a whole book of these comics available now!

Andreeva & Mboko doubles, Miami Open 2026

13 Going On 30 (2004) dir. Gary Winick

The mothman prophecies - 2002

From the London Olympics (2012)

1918 Bell Telephone ad during the Influenza. From Everything Victorian and Edwardian, FB.