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LJ Idol Presents Week 1
On the first day of kindergarten, Jack pushes Angela down on the playground at recess after lunch. While she’s crying in the nurse’s office getting scraped knees and palms bandaged, Jack gets to go back to class and practice writing his name. After school, their teacher catches Jack’s mom in the doorway as Jack gets his backpack. She tells her what happened, finishing with “It sounds like someone has a bit of a crush,” and the two share a chuckle. The grass stain on the front of Angela’s dress never comes clean.
In the middle of July between third and fourth grade, Marisol is playing tag in the front yard with some of the neighborhood kids. The sprinkler is on and they are a drenched horde of suntanned limbs, ball caps, and carefree laughter. Her dad and her uncle are sitting on the front porch drinking lemonade and her uncle says, “Don’t you think Mari’s shorts are a little too short?”
During math class in eighth grade, Alejandro, sitting behind Sophie, reaches across his desk and snaps her bra strap. She tells him to stop and is shushed by the teacher. He does it again and she turns in her seat to yell at him. She is sent out into the hallway for the rest of the period for disrupting class. While in the lunch line, he walks up behind her and does it again. She punches him in the face and is sent home on a three-day suspension. When her parents explain the situation to the principal, they receive a form apology letter. Alejandro is never reprimanded and his black eye fades faster than Sophie’s sense of injustice.
A group of boys on the basketball team all show up to history class in muscle shirts with the arm holes torn down the side. The history teacher makes Desiree wear an old football jersey over her wide-strapped tank top because “the dress code states that students must be covered from shoulder to mid-thigh.” He also chides her in front of the class for taking up his valuable class time.
Rumor gets out that Leticia gave Stephen a blow job after their junior prom. She goes to school Monday morning to find “WHORE” spray-painted on her locker in large, red letters. At the other end of the hall, Stephen gets a high five from a senior he’s never spoken to before.
During a lecture on privilege in an Intercultural Communications class at the university, the professor asks the male students what they do on a regular basis to avoid being sexually assaulted. There is silence, then a voice says from the back of the classroom, “Not go to jail.” The class laughs, but no other suggestions are made. The professor asks the female students the same question and they compile a list. Don’t go running or walking at night. Don’t park in underground parking garages. Don’t drink too much at parties. Don’t leave your drink unattended. Don’t wear clothing that’s too revealing. Don’t rent a first-floor apartment. Always have a public first date. Always carry your cell phone. Always lock your doors and windows.
Last Tuesday, I took my seven-month old to breakfast with me. The gentleman at the table next to me commented as he was leaving how well behaved my son was. When I pulled back the grey blanket to reveal her blue flowery dress, he told me instead how beautiful she was.
In the middle of July between third and fourth grade, Marisol is playing tag in the front yard with some of the neighborhood kids. The sprinkler is on and they are a drenched horde of suntanned limbs, ball caps, and carefree laughter. Her dad and her uncle are sitting on the front porch drinking lemonade and her uncle says, “Don’t you think Mari’s shorts are a little too short?”
During math class in eighth grade, Alejandro, sitting behind Sophie, reaches across his desk and snaps her bra strap. She tells him to stop and is shushed by the teacher. He does it again and she turns in her seat to yell at him. She is sent out into the hallway for the rest of the period for disrupting class. While in the lunch line, he walks up behind her and does it again. She punches him in the face and is sent home on a three-day suspension. When her parents explain the situation to the principal, they receive a form apology letter. Alejandro is never reprimanded and his black eye fades faster than Sophie’s sense of injustice.
A group of boys on the basketball team all show up to history class in muscle shirts with the arm holes torn down the side. The history teacher makes Desiree wear an old football jersey over her wide-strapped tank top because “the dress code states that students must be covered from shoulder to mid-thigh.” He also chides her in front of the class for taking up his valuable class time.
Rumor gets out that Leticia gave Stephen a blow job after their junior prom. She goes to school Monday morning to find “WHORE” spray-painted on her locker in large, red letters. At the other end of the hall, Stephen gets a high five from a senior he’s never spoken to before.
During a lecture on privilege in an Intercultural Communications class at the university, the professor asks the male students what they do on a regular basis to avoid being sexually assaulted. There is silence, then a voice says from the back of the classroom, “Not go to jail.” The class laughs, but no other suggestions are made. The professor asks the female students the same question and they compile a list. Don’t go running or walking at night. Don’t park in underground parking garages. Don’t drink too much at parties. Don’t leave your drink unattended. Don’t wear clothing that’s too revealing. Don’t rent a first-floor apartment. Always have a public first date. Always carry your cell phone. Always lock your doors and windows.
Last Tuesday, I took my seven-month old to breakfast with me. The gentleman at the table next to me commented as he was leaving how well behaved my son was. When I pulled back the grey blanket to reveal her blue flowery dress, he told me instead how beautiful she was.
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The fact we all know that this is all so very true is just.. yeah.
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The ending especially makes my blood boil. It's a long fight, lifelong. But we'll never give up.
Excellent work!
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Well done! Well written!
Brava!
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Good use of the prompt.
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And yes, I know all of those women's rules all too well. Carrying my keys splayed through my fingers in dark, worrisome places and sporting pepper spray when exercising outdoors are on there too. :(
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But this was really powerful and really well written. Great job!
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