Thought I had Better Keep My Mouth Shut

They came for the ones who floated in on streamers. I did not care, they weren’t relatives or anything. Then the soldiers came for the polka dotted ashtinglers. I was never fond of them, so I ignored their screams. When they came to take away the marshmonitors, I almost stepped in. But they had guns and bayonets, and they were brutal. When you are living in a dictatorship, you learn there is no freedom of speech. I kept quiet. They took my favorite neighbors, the Ashwanders on Tuesday night. I heard Mr. A screaming for the rest of us to help him. I thought if I kept my mouth shut, I would be safe. I was wrong.