It Must Be Like This to Be Homeless
by Ann Haynes

I don’t want to be nice anymore:

pleasant.
professional.
kind.
polite.
smiling.
considerate.
seemly.

I want to hunker down in the depths of my self and surprise everyone.

here’s how I’d do it:

that guy at work
says “scoldy” once too often
my kid says “you’re crazy” and means it
a stranger says “calm down”
a bunch of teens laugh at me
I lose my money.

And so.

Noone has any idea how much is at stake.

so here’s what:

I hunker down in the middle of the street

and just scream

leave me alone
leave me alone
leave me alone

Ann Haynes is a mom, writer, part time bartender, and office worker. She often wants to say what’s what while on the job