Challenge 476 Response

Angel Zapata’s “Carrion Folk”

with Johanna Miklós

Challenge 476: In Angel Zapata’s “Carrion Folk” why does Momma call her husband?

Where can Momma go? Angel Zapata shows very clearly that for this Momma there is nowhere to go. As a reader of stories of abuse and the impact on victims, I always wish there were something one could actually do to stop domestic violence.

Could I take your hand, Momma, and lead you to a shelter for battered women? Maybe I would. Maybe this shelter would move you and your child to another State, far away from your abuser. Maybe the government would give you a new identity. Maybe they would give you a clean home. Maybe they would give you a job so you can keep that clean home and feed your child and yourself.

Could I take your hand, Momma, and lead you to a shelter for battered women? Maybe I would. Maybe this shelter won’t tell him you’re there. Maybe this shelter will let you stay for a month.

Maybe this shelter offers family counseling and they ask him to come, too, and you patch things up and the shelter is pleased with what they’ve accomplished and they send you and your child home to a new beginning. Maybe your obituary will mention how courageous you were.