we play a game we see often on

news channels. ones that mamita tries to

turn off rapido. she is never fast

enough. our brown hands collect

sticks for white picket fences and

something to hit with. we grab stones to

chuck at skittish squirrels. at too-fast-cars

with bumper stickers we deem aggressive. no pests

in our casa. i pretend animal control and

immigration officers are our closest amigos. we

pretend to like being bored. aburridos. sebastiáns

favourite movie is white chicks and

he quotes them often. “didn’t someone tell you

this was an all-white party?” we shriek in laughter

and pretend to have problems

with our neighbours. all of them. he thinks

our ant hills are invaders and stomps

them down. i take cuidado of our

lawn. paint everything the same colour; peach

and grey and blanco. skin-tone-crayon. we report

the clouds for being suspiciously

shaped. call the policia but it goes to

voicemail. beeeep— so, we run out a stray

gato and also the new kids on the block. make

inappropriate comments ‘bout someone who

don’t wanna hear it.  we think it’s fun to be

this mean, this white-suburban. get outta here,

go back, is this where you’re

meant to be? we direct traffic and we

quote them all

so often.         “didn’t someone—

                                                       —all-white party?”     
mamita comes out and complains

about the noise. about the ruido we’re

making. we thank her for playing along and

run away like      skittish                                  squirrels.

             he hits me with the stick and

                                 i laugh.