Welcome, With
Hand Gestures
deborah jang
In 1957 Bronson Avenue
stepped out to greet her.
Bunched at the curb near
the corner — a tangle of scrawny
limbs, missing front teeth,
sunburnt hair.
18
Looking back, she wonders if they
had rehearsed. Or was it spontaneous
humiliation?
Did the parents know?
Ignore them, her mom advised
after. Only sticks and stones
can break bones. Words won’t
really hurt you.
In unison they had chanted
with gusto and snickers, with mean
pointy fingers pulling back
at their faces slant eyes.