Evil By Shannon O’Connor

I learned about canned

margaritas from the show Evil –

it’s about a team of paranormal investigators

for the Catholic Church.

The main character, Kristen, had climbed Mount 

Everest, graduated with a PhD in Psychology, gave birth to four

daughters, was in her thirties, and found solace 

in margaritas in a can.

I wondered how a person could

accomplish so much by that age, 

but I realized this is a fantasy show,

and it’s not close to reality.

She has the hots for the priest

while they investigate paranormal

activity, possessions, demons,

and Evil.

I tried the margaritas in cans, and they’re

the perfect blend, not like

when I try to mix them myself.

I find when I drink the margaritas, 

I have the desire to find

Evil -

where it’s lurking,

hiding,

so, I can get a dose of 

excitement

in an otherwise boring life.

On Fridays, after I finish work,

I can look for aliens 

depositing toxic mold in Earth houses,

poisoning people

and spreading evil.

I pay attention at my job

to the doctor’s discussions about

psychiatric patients,

and dream of transforming their tragedies

into sci-fi.

I will continue to sip the margaritas and search

for Evil, and a hope for a more interesting

life.

If I can’t live one, at least I can

write about it.

Shannon O'Connor holds an MFA in Writing and Literature from Bennington College. She has been published previously in The Rye Whiskey Review, as well as Wordgathering, Oddball Magazine, 365 Tomorrows and others. She is the chairperson of the Boston Chapter of the National Writers Union. She writes sci-fi based on stories she has heard, but changes them, so people can't recognize themselves. Or at least she hopes.