Walking While Female aT one a.m. - Maya White-Lurie

WRITING

Trick or Treat

by Brittney Maddox

It was around 1:45 am when they emerged from the shadows Three young adult males stood before us My friends and I kept quiet to ourselves We just wanted to make it home after the costume party

Sensing our fear They addressed us sweetie with their diabetic tongues and molasses like smiles They waited for our response We answered with silence sugar free We didn’t want any treats from those tricks When you are female And a group of males approaches you At close to 2 in the morning Under the guise of angels Who have hidden their devil’s horns

The hair on the back of your neck will stand stiff like cemetery gates You are afraid that if you do not answer them that the joke will be on you

The devil will lash out Call you a bitch with his licorice whip tongue in the night sky

Or He will stand in your way vying for your sweet attention until you Throw away your mask and reveal you aren’t that sweet Pepper spray will not be enough

Or he assaults you with pitchfork punches, scarring your psyche, leaving you with the neck bites of paranoia

The three males agitated, did not pop rock pop off on us that night. There was that possibility however. My sour patch story sounds familiar as it should

You will hear this poem, read this poem Say the answer to my problem is to not to go alone at night, wear another outfit or costume