Marie Duedahl

Boys will be boys?

Is that even something

people still say?

I thought that cliché had died.

In 1955.

UGLY GIRLS
The next day everybody is talking about our list.
The whole school has seen it.
I get lots of high fives from girls.
Even from girls I don’t know.
Girls whom I thought
sided with The Trumps.
Those girls actually exist.
Jason and Theo are angry.
They try to act cool
but they hate us.
I can see it in their eyes.
It’s a bit odd, actually.
Our list is not
exactly insulting.
But to them it is.
Girls are not supposed
to answer back.
Girls are meant to smile, shut up
and be pretty while doing it.
Later the same day
everybody in class
receives

Girls are not supposed

to answer back.

Girls are meant to smile, shut up

and be pretty while doing it.

pain in the neck.

“Special as in special.
One of a kind.”

I can’t help smiling.
Normally not my style.
But nobody has ever called me beautiful before.
I look like Darth Vader’s
child with Death.

ow’s words are gnawing at me.

Snow’s words are gnawing at me.

I steal a glance at Amy.

But only from the guys’ phones.

That’s never a good sign.

It’s a Snap.

It makes the boys smirk.

They are looking at the girls

with knowing smiles.

I put my elbows on the table.

Hide behind my arms.

Jason and Theo are acting silly.

That’s never a good sign, either.

When Jason and Theo are laughing

someone else is always sad.

I look at Amy.

She’s also noticed it

and rolls her eyes.

Amy and I have been good friends

since we started school.

It seems like forever.

We both know what the other is thinking.

And right now I know