wildscape. literary journal

Welcome to the trans high school experience
by Patricia Davis-Muffett

I’ve never been bullied. I don’t think that’s a thing here.
Do you have a manifesto hidden somewhere?
It’s just better if we keep the gender neutral bathrooms locked so kids don’t get high in there.
We don’t need metal detectors here. Those make kids feel unsafe.
Are you sure you don’t want us to say your dead name at graduation?
People are entitled to their opinions. We have to be respectful of that.
Maybe those kids didn’t mean to drop trash on your lunch table every day.
Maybe the gym teacher doesn’t remember your pronouns after being corrected all semester.
Are you sure you’re talking about this school?
Please take the school climate survey.
Please come to the Principal Coffee.
Please tell us how we can do better.
Are you sure you’re talking?
We don’t want anyone to be uncomfortable.
We don’t want the other kids to be uncomfortable.
We didn’t know there was a problem.
I’ve never seen a problem.
We know there’s a problem. We’re working on it.
Are you sure?

about the author // Patricia Davis-Muffett