The dream

We met in college.

He was tall, popular, handsome, funny. The kind of guy you can’t say no to.

He asked me out.

I didn’t say no.

We landed good jobs after college. We got married twelve months later. We took turns washing the dishes.

I had a son twenty-four months later.

We took turns dropping him at preschool. I quit my job.

We danced to Whitney Houston.

I had a daughter forty-eight months later. This was it.

This was the dream.

I smiled and made some pancakes.

The poison

He came home late. Fuming.

Some ‘brown bitch’ had got the promotion. I squinted and made some pancakes.

The Confirmation

Prices were rising. Stocks were falling.

He was fired.

The ‘brown bitch’ was not.

I frowned and made some pancakes.

The delusion

“They’re taking our jobs” “Fucking criminals”

“Go back to your country” He yelled at the television.

Our son looked over curiously.

I sighed and made some pancakes.

The spread

“They’re taking our jobs” “Fucking criminals”

“Go back to your country”

Our son yelled at the television. Our daughter looked over curiously. I gulped and made some pancakes.

The lunacy

“They’re taking our jobs” “Fucking criminals”

“Go back to your country”

My husband, my son, and my daughter yelled during the riots. I cried and made some pancakes.

The explosion

12 dead.

15 injured.

“They had it coming.” My son was handcuffed.

My husband and daughter yelled at the police. I searched for the pancake flour.