THE PEOPLE SKIRT
The people skirt was a pencil skirt that had black and white drawings of people printed on it. It was cotton and form fitting. It was a skirt for skinny people. I wasn’t skinny. The people skirt cost fifty dollars. I wanted the people skirt for many months but couldn’t get it because I was having a jaw operation. After the operation, I lost a lot of weight so I was able to fit into the people skirt. I wore a yellow tank top with the people skirt. There were no rolls of fat because I was skinny from the jaw operation. They wired my jaw shut for six weeks, and I could only drink instead of eat. And I couldn’t really talk or yell or scream because my jaw was wired shut. My mother told me nice girls don’t walk and smoke. They don’t wear short skirts and Doc Martins and motorcycle jackets because it’s not feminine. She did not tell me about the people skirt. Player’s cigarettes are for men. She did not say anything about the people skirt which was form fitting. If you get pregnant, get an abortion, she said. But she was really talking about herself and what she would have done if it had been legal. This is why when I walked through the empty parking lot toward the library and got yelled at by some men on their lunch break, I was taken aback. I had never been yelled at like this before. Like a woman. Like a woman. I’m fifteen I wanted to shout to shame them the way they had shamed me. But I didn’t because I couldn’t because my jaw was wired shut.
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DON’T TAKE IT AWAY
They were in her room. It was too cold to go outside. It was January. Her mother was in the den drinking beer, watching game show reruns. The boy was playing the miniature arcade video game she’d gotten for Christmas. It was 1985. It was a Sunday afternoon. The girl was fourteen, so was the boy. When she felt he’d played too long, when she felt he wasn’t paying her enough attention, she grabbed the game out of his hands; he grabbed it back and said, Don’t take it away, you fucking bitch. She wore a navy Polo sweater that was wool and scratched the back of her neck. He lifted it over her head, and when he looked at her chest, he said, Your boobs are pointy. What he didn’t know was that she was recording their conversation on her Walkman. What he didn’t know was long after they stopped spending time together, she’d listen to the tape over and over, trying to figure out what it was exactly she did wrong.
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BEE
Did you do everything the bee wanted? Did you stand still and force yourself not to be afraid? Did you let him rest on your collar? Did you let him smell your hair? Were you calm, when he nuzzled against your cheek? When he got under your sunglasses, did you let him crawl on your eyelids? And as he walked along your soft, smooth skin, did you remember he was there or did you forget and blink?
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APRIL 30 – MAY 31, 2014
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN WILLENHALL AFTER SHE WAS FOLLOWED HOME FOLLOWING A NIGHT OUT.
POLICE ARE MAKING ENQUIRIES AND APPEALING FOR WITNESSES AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED LAST NIGHT.
A MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN THE MCCOWAN ROAD AND MCNICOLL AVENUE AREA THURSDAY, MAY 29.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND ATTACKED BY A GANG OF MEN IN A WEST CORNWALL TOWN, POLICE SAY.
DETECTIVES ARE APPEALING FOR WITNESSES AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AS SHE WAS WALKING HOME IN GLOSSOP.
RICHLAND COUNTY DEPUTIES ARE INVESTIGATING AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WHILE WALKING HER DOG.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY TWO MEN TUESDAY NIGHT IN A FIELD OFF VERSAILLES ROAD, LEXINGTON POLICE SAID.
POLICE ARE APPEALING FOR WITNESSES TO COME FORWARD AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ON A TRAIN BETWEEN CENTRAL AND PENRITH EARLIER THIS MONTH.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN MELBOURNE LAST NIGHT, JUST ONE WEEK AFTER TWO OTHER WOMEN WERE ATTACKED IN THE SAME AREA.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AS SHE SLEPT ON A TRAIN AFTER ENJOYING A NIGHT OUT WITH FRIENDS IN LONDON.
POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A SUSPECT AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN DOWNTOWN REGINA OVER THE WEEKEND.
VANCOUVER POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED JOGGING THROUGH STANLEY PARK MONDAY MORNING.
SOUTH WALES POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN A VW VAN IN JERSEY MARINE.
ACCORDING TO POLICE, ON THURSDAY, MAY 1 AROUND 10:30 P.M., A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ON COMO LAKE AVENUE NEAR WESTWOOD STREET.
POLICE IN CORBY ARE APPEALING FOR WITNESSES AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN THE TOWN.
HYDERABAD: DESPITE CLAIMS OF THE CYBERABAD POLICE OF INTENSE PATROLLING ON THE OUTER RING ROAD (ORR), A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, STABBED AND LEFT TO DIE ON THE EIGHT-LANE CARRIAGEWAY AT HIMAYATSAGAR LATE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED NEAR WASTE GROUND IN CORBY WHERE A DOG WALKER WAS STABBED JUST DAYS EARLIER.
POLICE APPEAL FOR WITNESSES AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ON A TRAIN BETWEEN CENTRAL AND PENRITH.
THE SEARCH IS ON FOR A SUSPECT, AFTER POLICE SAY A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN STORM LAKE, IOWA.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN BRUNSWICK ON FRIDAY NIGHT, A WEEK AFTER TWO WOMEN WERE ATTACKED IN THE SAME AREA AFTER LEAVING SYDNEY ROAD BARS.
POLICE ARE APPEALING FOR INFORMATION AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WHILST TRAVELLING ON A BUS TO HYDE.
TORONTO POLICE ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC FOR HELP IDENTIFYING TWO SUSPECTS AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND HELD AGAINST HER WILL FOR 28 HOURS LAST WEEKEND.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WHILE WALKING ON A STREET IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND AT THE WEEKEND.
COQUITLAM MOUNTIES ARE HUNTING FOR A SUSPECT AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED MAY 1ST.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN EDINBURGH LATE LAST NIGHT.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AS SHE WALKED IN STRETFORD.
WOMAN DRAGGED, SEXUALLY ASSAULTED NEAR HUMBOLDT PARK.
POLICE HAVE ISSUED A FRESH APPEAL FOR WITNESSES AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN HER HOME BY AN INTRUDER LAST WEEK.
POLICE SAY THAT A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED EARLY YESTERDAY IN BED-STUY.
RESIDENTS IN SOUTH SUBURBAN MATTESON ARE ON ALERT AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED NEAR A METRA TRAIN STATION.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED THIS MORNING ON ST. ANDREWS ROAD AS SHE WALKED HOME FROM A NIGHT OUT.
DURHAM — POLICE SAY A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY A MAN WITH A KNIFE LAST WEEKEND, AND THEY ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN FINDING A SUSPECT THE WOMAN DESCRIBED.
HAMILTON POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A MALE SUSPECT AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WHILE LEAVING THE HAMILTON-BRANTFORD RAIL TRAIL.
POLICE HAVE LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN GLASGOW’S KELVINGROVE PARK.
POLICE ARE APPEALING FOR WITNESSES TO COME FORWARD AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN WILLENHALL OVER THE WEEKEND.
POLICE ARE APPEALING FOR WITNESSES AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING IN CHESTERFIELD.
A YOUNG MAN IS BEING SOUGHT BY POLICE AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN PALMERSTON NORTH AT THE WEEKEND.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT ABOUT 4:30 A.M. IN ROOM 1 ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF VISINTAINER’S MOTEL EARLY TUESDAY MORNING.
POLICE ARE ISSUING AN E-FIT LIKENESS OF AN OFFENDER, AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN IPSWICH AS SHE WAS WALKING HOME THROUGH A PARK.
POLICE SAID A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT 4 A.M. IN THE 100 BLOCK OF OAKLEIGH AVENUE.
POLICE ARE URGING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION TO COME FORWARD AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ON A BUS FROM ERDINGTON.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WHILE USING THE PATH.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN WALKABOUT #BRISTOL IN EARLY HRS OF LAST SUNDAY – IF YOU KNOW THIS MAN PLS CALL 101.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT THE RIVERWALK THURSDAY NIGHT.
POLICE TELL THE DEMOCRAT-HERALD THAT A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY AN ARMED MAN IN ONE OF THE BREAK-INS, AND IN ANOTHER A 6-YEAR-OLD BOY WOKE HIS MOTHER TO TELL HER SOMEONE WAS IN THE HOUSE.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AROUND 10:45 P.M. MAY 17 AFTER BOARDING THE TRAIN AT WILSHIRE/WESTERN STATION.
IN ONE MONTH, STUDENTS RECEIVED FIVE E-MAILS ABOUT CASES INCLUDING ONE IN WHICH A 61-YEAR-OLD MAN GRABBED A STUDENT IN THE LIBRARY AND ONE IN WHICH A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY A MAN SHE DIDN’T KNOW IN A CAMPUS RESIDENCE.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND THROWN OUT OF A MOVING TRAIN NEAR MANDYA ON THE WAY TO MYSORE TWO YEARS AGO.
SACRAMENTO POLICE SAY A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED LATE SATURDAY NIGHT NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF FOLSOM BOULEVARD AND BICENTENNIAL CIRCLE.
IN JANUARY, A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT A DANCE PARTY WEST OF CAMPUS. THAT SAME MONTH, THREE PEEPING TOMS WERE SEEN WEST OF UCLA.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN MELBOURNE LAST NIGHT, JUST ONE WEEK AFTER TWO OTHER WOMEN WERE ATTACKED IN THE SAME AREA.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND ROBBED NEAR THE ALBANY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, SAGE COLLEGE OF ALBANY, AND ALBANY LAW SCHOOL CAMPUS, ACCORDING TO A LETTER SENT TO STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION PUBLIC SAFETY.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WHEN AN ARMED MAN CAME INTO HER APARTMENT THROUGH A SECOND-FLOOR BALCONY DOOR.
WOMAN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN CAR PARK ATTACK. AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN SCARBOROUGH.
DURHAM POLICE SAID A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN A RESIDENCE ON ROCHELLE STREET THURSDAY MORNING.
POLICE INVESTIGATE AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN PENZANCE.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AS SHE TRIED TO GET INTO HER CENTER CITY APARTMENT ON THURSDAY NIGHT, POLICE SAID.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ON APRIL 29TH BETWEEN 2:15 P.M. AND 2:30 P.M., AT A HOME IN THE VICINITY OF RANCHO BUENA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL.
POLICE SAY A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY A STRANGER WHO PROVIDED HELP AFTER HER CAR RAN OUT OF GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY A “CROSS-EYED” MAN WHO FOLLOWED HER DOWN A DURHAM CITY STREET.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY A MAN.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND ROBBED WEDNESDAY MORNING NEAR AN L STOP IN THE ROGERS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
POLICE HAVE RELEASED IMAGES OF A MAN THEY WANT TO TRACE AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ON A BUS IN BIRMINGHAM.
POLICE SAID A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT THE DUFFERIN STREET AND LAWRENCE AVENUE CENTRE DEC. 6, 2013.
POLICE ARE APPEALING FOR WITNESSES AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN WIGAN.
A 22-YEAR-OLD TORONTO MAN IS FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES AFTER POLICE SAY A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AFTER ANSWERING HER APARTMENT DOOR.
THIRD WOMAN ATTACKED. A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN BRUNSWICK ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
A TEENAGER HAS BEEN ARRESTED AFTER A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN SOUTH LANARKSHIRE AT THE WEEKEND.
A WOMAN WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED SUNDAY MORNING AFTER A GUNMAN FORCED HIS WAY INTO HER SUV IN BROKEN ARROW, AUTHORITIES SAID.
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“The People Skirt” is forthcoming in the Catherines, the Great Anthology published by Oolichan Books, Edited by Susie Berg; “Don’t Take It Away,” was originally published in The Antigonish Review, Issue 166, 2011; “Bee” was published in my third poetry collection, The Purpose Pitch (Mansfield Press, 2015); “APRIL 30-MAY 31, 2014,” was first published in Delirious Hem, December 25, 2014 and in The Purpose Pitch.