When No One Is Watching

by Alyssa Cole

“Girl. Sydney. I’m sorry you’re sad, but how many times do I have to tell you? You won’t find gold panning in Fuckboy Creek.”

“Baby, if you wanna keep what’s yours, you gotta hold on to it better than that. Someone is always waiting to snatch what you got, even these damn birds.”

“You’re making me feel unsafe, and if you don’t stop, I’ll—I’ll call the police.” There’s a malicious glee on her face as she says it, like when she knows her renovating work has woken me up. An expression that says, I’m fucking with you just because I can.

“You work at the public school. This is going to be an independent school priced just high enough to do the work of segregation for the people who will send their kids there.

Not being able to call the police when you need help really sucks, I’m learning.