Audacious by Gabrielle Prendergast Read Free Book Online Page B

accept the plea bargain
    And do whatever community service they want
    And pay the fine
    Will they give her back her job
    Because her daughter is disabled
    And she needs the money?
    I can’t guarantee that
    Says My Lawyer
    They are two separate issues
    So I could accept their offer
    And Ms. Sagal, who is innocent,
    Could still lose everything?
    How is that fair?
    How is any of this fair?
    Says My Lawyer.

PURGING : PART ONE
    When I get home
    I throw up in my new bathroom
    Which is ironic
    Because Mom comes back today.
    She’s put on weight
    And looks much better
    And hugs us girls
    Like she will never let us go.
    We follow her
    As she moves through the house
    Throwing away secrets
    And bulimic’s accoutrements
    Toothbrushes, Ziploc bags
    Laxatives and diuretics
    Stashes of candy bars
    She lets Kayli eat one; I decline.
    It’s a new start, says Mom
    Hauling the load out to the trash
    Kayli grins and cheers
    But I have heard this before.
    Maybe she doesn’t remember
    The two previous times we did this
    Kayli was always running away
    But I’m not ready to celebrate yet.

BACK TO SCHOOL
    School starts again
    I’m not welcome
    Which suits me
    I sleep in.
    Kayli’s principal calls
    Wants a meeting
    Kayli refuses
    Stays home
    After a very late lunch,
    Mom who is already
    Well sick of us
    Takes charge
    Pencils are sharpened
    Books are opened
    Homeschooling
    Starts.

EMPTY SPACE
    It says more about you
    And what you intended to say
    Than even the artwork itself
    Everyone knows what should be there
    My piece is up in the library
    And that insipid watercolor
    And in between we left a large
    Empty space
    People have been writing on the wall
    â€œFree speech” and “No censorship”
    â€œMy body—my decision”
    I saw the girl who wrote that
    She didn’t think anyone was looking
    Some have drawn pictures:
    Boobs and butts and…
    Signed them—“By Asthmatic”
    â€œBy Ugly” “By Disabled”
    Stink Eye wants to wash it off
    But can’t because
    There’s an informal “honor guard”
    All day.
    Kids sit by it and read
    During their spares
    And stay after school
    Or come early
    To make sure
    No one wipes you away.
    The principal made an announcement
    Saying anyone caught writing on
    Or skipping class to guard the wall
    Will get detention
    But they are calling it
    â€œThe Freedom Wall”
    There’s even a Facebook page!
    I think the janitor whatshisname
    Is on your side
    He has refused to clean it off
    Anyway, people are using
    Permanent ink
    They would have to paint
    To cover it up
    Someone drew a kind of frame
    All Celtic swirls and thorns
    It’s amazing
    I wish you could see it
    I’ll send you a picture
    Or check Facebook
    They update the image daily
    It’s so cool, habibti
    You’re famous
    I’m proud to be your boyfriend
    It’s like you awoke something
    Like everyone at this school
    Suddenly gets it.

FAMILY MEETING
    When four minds meet
    Like four envoys
    Each from a faraway land
    At first we cannot communicate
    We speak different languages
    And have different customs
    And different beliefs
    And want different things
    But slowly we begin to understand
    Each other, to sympathize
    And even agree
    On some simple ideas
    We eat together, break bread
    And share wine
    And eventually laugh
    About our shared problems
    There are “non-negotiables”
    Homework and curfews
    And sacrifices
    Church and clothes
    And we all agree
    Mom should have therapy
    And Kayli, a tutor
    And I need to stay out of jail.

DAD: PART TWO
    He’s just about to adjourn the meeting
    I’m expecting Mom to say something
    Or Kayli even, but they are silent
    I guess they’re leaving it up to me
    Like I have all the credibility right now.
    Dad, I say, you have a place in all this
    He turns to me, an open face
    Like a window to an empty attic room
    With space to pack with broken furniture
    And other unwanted things.
    We need you