Pen to paper
I scan the questionnaire from the mailbox.
"Your voice matters."
In big black bold letters
Sounds nice.
I get to pick if I want that new high-rise.
Or do I want to keep the K-Mart on the corner?
Where I get the slushies with my child?
I mark a few boxes
Quickly turn it in
Then am done.
My voice.
Issued.
Mailed in.
DONE.
.
But
It wasn’t done.
The K-Mart is being demolished.
People without a roof overhead
All because some wanted the high-rise.
Now the people who lived over the K-Mart have been evicted.
My kid doesn’t have slushies.
I’m waiting my turn
For
"Your voice matters."
Stepping up to the mic
I inhale and start
Only to be cut off
Out of time
The meeting is over.
.
Time lapses
A day
A week
Two?
Then an email lands with the subject line,
Straight in bold: “Thank you for attending.”
No mention of the open mic
No mention of my name being asked to give a statement
Just a link to a brand new survey
Asking
Waiting
What should be built where the K-Mart used to be?
I click.
Begrudgenly
Tick a few boxes.
Write my name because:
“Your voice matters.”
About the Creator
Chel Writes
I should come with warning labels.
I write here and on Substack.
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