Marie Duedahl

I’m pretty like a cactus

it was love at first sight.

One badass recognizing

another badass.

Dirty knees.

Grass all over.

Arm in arm.

That was us.

But now?

Now here we are

back to back.

I look like crap without makeup.”

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.

Right there it hits me.

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.