How to Stop Maggie’s Bullshit by Terveen Gill

She’s at it again. Why did my mother even have her?

One kid was enough. Why the second?

Because I had to suffer.

She was supposed to be my playmate, a companion, but that’s not what happened.

Her name’s Maggie and she’s out to destroy herself.

Twenty-two years and she’s learned nothing from them.

My mother used to say – God doesn’t make mistakes.

But after having Maggie her words changed to – God didn’t make Maggie right.

She’s dressed like it’s a party. It’s really our mother’s funeral.

When she thinks no one’s looking, she pulls out a lipstick and darkens her lips.

Can’t anyone smell the liquor on her breath?

How about noticing that she’s smiling, and her eyes aren’t really blinking.

Maybe she snorted that white powder before the funeral.

Her legs don’t look stable and she’s leaning on my boyfriend’s arm.

Why is he standing next to her? Shouldn’t he know better?

Did he giggle at something she said? I swear, I’m going to kill him.

My mother’s being buried, we’re not seeing her off on a cruise. Bon voyage!

Maggie takes two steps back, stumbles, lands hard on her butt.

It makes her shriek and cry out – Why did my mom hate me?!

I could answer that, but this isn’t the time or place.

Then come her sobs like bombs going off, she’s shaking and trying to get up.

Hands shoot out to help her, but she’s looking down instead of up.

Her fingers tear at the grass, pulling out clumps, stuffing them in her mouth.

Oh God! Now I have to stop her. What an idiot!

I grab her face, squeeze her cheeks, and pry open her mouth.

Spit this out right now! My voice is a notch below yelling.

Maggie spits and gags, spits and gags till her mouth’s empty.

She says sorry before passing out.

There’s one thing I know that my mother didn’t – how to stop Maggie’s bullshit.