Mr. Bones and the Housing Crisis

  By Jac Clarkson

Mr. Bones previously worked at the Wendy’s off of Evergreen Parkway before its untimely closing. He was known for his vigilant work and cheerful attitude. A former coworker of his shared cheerfully that “no customers ever had a bone to pick with Mr. Bones.” Yet Mr. Bones struggles with discrimination and finances. 

Mr. Bones hypothesizes that, because of his lack of skin, some employers and customers are unwilling to conduct business with him. He has not been able to find a new place of work since Wendy’s closed. 

Mr. Bones says he spent more than a third of his paycheck on rent alone. He would like add, “The cost to live where my parents and their parents lived is beyond astronomical for the average worker these days.” Mr. Bones would stay even with his skeleton budget. He is struggling to afford life here. 

Mr. Bones feels that some people could be comforted by a lack of skin. He says he would like to pursue a career in psychology, but due to his appearance, most institutions are unwilling to give him the education required. He’s hoping that this news will reach the public aid and support Mr. Bones’ quest for a nondiscriminatory education. Sadly, there is no fully fleshed-out process to resolve these societal issues. Mr. Bones is hopeful- however, he says if nothing changes he will be picked bone dry.. 

As Mr. Bones fights for his legal rights and for his desire to become a therapist, he says he wants “a world in which anyone, regardless of whether they have skin or not, can become whatever they want.” 

Three months after his last interview, Mr. Bones was found living inside a Spirit Halloween. When asked why he was there, Mr. Bones said he “had to make do with what he could.”