by Alex Carrigan
After Erik Fuhrer. For Cici Cooper, Scream 2 (1997)
Sober Sister
sitting on the
sofa surfing channels
past the static,
suppressing
the silence of
the sorority house.
Sober Sister
sacrifices a night
of shots, slips
of tongues in kisses,
sentimental moments
of a sorority life.
Sober Sister
speaks on the phone
to a stranger,
stumped to find
she’s specified
to die tonight.
Sober Sister,
sinner in the eyes
of a film student
for having similar
initials to a girl
who snacked on
stovetop popcorn
and watched slashers.
For speaking
in retorts,
for specifying a
role in someone’s script.
Sober Sister,
soon soaring
through still sky
onto the surface
of a driveway,
splayed out to
sober her sisters
and remind them
that someone can
just as easily select
them next for
simply
speaking up,
speaking out,
staying out,
staying home,
staying sober,
simply being.