Who’s Next?

Someone knocked on the door today in class.

We all turned our heads and stared so blankly at that stupid door.

I wish you could’ve sat in that classroom today.

I wish you could have felt the air in that classroom shrink.

 that moment we all went silent because we were holding our breath.

We aren’t allowed to answer the door,

so we anxiously watch our teacher walk to the door,

praying that someone isn’t standing there with a gun…

“That won’t happen here…”

   “We want everyone  to feel safe…”

“Safe, respectful, responsible!”

“Bullying will not be tolerated…”

    “We take these threats very seriously.”

“I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America… it stands… under God… justice for all.”

“I was told to go back to picking cotton in the hallway.”

“This kid started a group message with all the black people said he was going to kill us.”

“Yeah… he said he was gonna put his ‘shooters’ on me.”

“He shouted ‘f****t’ out of his car… I was too scared to say anything… He could’ve had a gun.”

“I can’t go to sleep at night because I know my kids are too scared to come to class… What can I do?”

“I’ve been having anxiety dreams about it…”

“I just have this weird feeling that…”

“I don’t feel safe.”