The Trees

by Percival Everett

“Are you a Christian?” “I might be. I haven’t decided,” Hind said. “I’ll make up my mind when I’m as wise as you.” “No one has ever called me ancient in a nicer way.” Mama Z smiled.

“Everybody talks about genocides around the world, but when the killing is slow and spread over a hundred years, no one notices. Where there are no mass graves, no one notices. American outrage is always for show. It has a shelf life.