We stand stiff and silent
As the forewoman speaks
She is reading out loud
Our eyes do not meet
We have signed and dated
The paper
It does not seem important now
Her words
Not ours
They are stony
Harsh and distant
Once she is gone
We can resume our routine
Alice fidgets
I admire her electricity
I give up when the forewoman speaks
She will be gone soon
I think
Then we can cross the bridge
Walk along the crosswalk
Find our way back home
She used to frighten me
Now I know she will leave us alone
Once she has read the paper
Once we have signed and dated her words
It is an endurance
But one we can survive.
