How to peel an orange

Select your fruit carefully--

young and firm, but with some give, you should be able to plunge your greedy fingers into

its gem bright flesh. If the rind resists, simply push harder.

(Do not forget, this orange  

belongs to you. It has no  

say in what you do to it.)

Dig your iron tipped nails deep into its protective shell

till crescent shaped wounds mar its  delicate beauty, marking

it forever as yours, yours.  

Peel away its defenses  

until it is open and

raw before you, all flaws and imperfections laid bare. It

would be prettier had your

clumsy hands not bruised it so, but these things cannot be helped.  Be sure to cut away the

bitter pith-- oranges should  be sweet and tangy, never  

harsh upon your tongue. It’s far easier to remove it  

entirely, than chance those

spiteful white strings getting stuck between your teeth. For it is  unpalatable to you,  

and your opinion is the

only one that matters here.  

Finally, pare away that

fragile membrane, and let those honeyed juices run freely

down your wrist. Sink your callous  canines in, and smile. It would  not taste so sweet, had it not  wanted you to consume it.