The Right Complexion

Smoke in the air 

“You want some”

“I’m good thanks though”

“Relax it’s fun”

Silence

Once outgoing

 but as I grew older 

nerves got in the way  

There sitting on the couch of a real High school party complete with underage substance use

Lucky for me my silence doesn’t last long 

Suddenly a knock on the door

“It’s the cops hide the beer”

Never mind, not so lucky 

The host opens the door

“Can I come in?” He asks 

“No” she responds 

“You need to listen to me”

“Fine”

He peers in and spots a bottle 

“Can I speak to your parents” 

“No please don’t” she says  crying 

“Don’t argue with me”

“My moms not home but I’ll call her”

No answer on the phone 

“party’s over you need to leave ” 

I take  a deep breath as I exit the building 

I text my ride and wait in the corner store  

I can’t stop thinking about how she wouldn’t comply 

If it were me, 

though it never would be,

I would do whatever the cops say 

That’s how I recognized  I was growing up 

I realized  that since  she was the right complexion when she spoke up  the cops could afford to look away