And on the twelfth night, they said watch out we’ve got a biter.
And so I woke up on my twentieth birthday in no one’s bed but my own
and I’m certain it’s because of who I was when I was blonde. I think your dad
caught me trying to exorcize hindsight last time I was over at your house because nothing
haunts me more than knowing the things I could have done differently
if only I had 20/20 vision. I think that freaked your dad out and not just because he’s
walking McCarthyism and I’m gayer than the literary canon.
I’ve always had a sweet tooth for libel within reason and a heart made of
biodegradable straws now and then and now you’re all fascists but I can’t say
that you are because that’s not polite and I’ve been trying my best to be polite
since I started wearing that God damn cone-like someone’s ball-less dog.
You’d hate to feel like that, wouldn’t you? I don’t think you could
pull it off, not like I can. When you can pull off calves that aren’t pretty enough
to be saved from becoming a half-eaten burger you can pull off anything.
When I drive with you in shotgun, I can see you pull on
the grab handle when it’s my mom’s red minivan.
you laugh at me when I say even that’s political. Similar to how America is the
best country in the world like how the used car dealership off Calle Rojo has the
best Hondas. If you had it your way I would have become normal the minute
I walked out of that bathroom stall. The one where you wrote your
phone number when we were freshmen in spirit.
And I knew then that I had no intention of ruining your life but
Then again…when in Rome.
Merlin June Mack (they/them) is a hemiplegic writer from Southern California. When they aren’t writing they can be found reading a book with at least one good literary motif in it. Merlin has been previously published in magazines such as The Lavender Review and Does It Have Pockets Magazine. Their work has also been Best of Net nominated. Merlin is currently working towards a BFA in creative writing at Southern Oregon University. You can find more of them @ merlin_june_is_a_lover on Instagram.