The only cliche more irritating than “make lemonade out of lemons” is “write what you know” even if both bromides are, on balance, worthy pieces of wisdom handed down from those who know. Happy to use this travesty of justice (sarcasm) taken from a very real, very recent experience (67 in a 55!!!), almost worth it to be asked “Any meth or alcohol tonight?” by the man in blue. Less happy to contemplate that a fairly routine infraction is, invariably for a white man like myself, routine, but could be –and often is– anything but predictable if you happen to be driving while not white. Happier still to see this one appear courtesy of Dumbo Press, a new lit mag I look forward to reading & supporting.
Does It Mean I’m Woke
if I get pulled over, assuming it’s speeding but who knows, especially at night, and even though no as a matter of fact I have not had anything to drink sir, I do the nine and three with my hands because who wants to be in the right but still become a statistic, and intentional the only killing that occurs during this stop is committed by kindness, and even when the officer comes back, bad news in his hand, it’s not necessarily that you were going too fast but it’s a slow month and we all have quotas to keep (he doesn’t say), 67 in a 55 seriously (I don’t say), and here’s all the info in case you want to contest in court etc., and even after he walks away, smiling—nothing if not professional—I find myself thanking him for what exactly?
