“I can pay for half,” they insisted as they waited for the library worker to figure out how much to charge for the literal crate of paper they’d printed.
“Nope,” Emerson insisted just as firmly. “We talked about this, Mal.”
They had, but that didn’t make it sit any more comfortably in Mal’s gut. Having Emerson pay for the print run made things feel unequal, even if they did earn it right back by selling copies, like she’d promised. It reminded Mal of their first eighth grade, when they would meet friends for sweets at Golden Gelato and couldn’t afford to pay. Their friends always covered them and promised it wasn’t a problem, but it was part of the reason Mal had stopped going to those sorts of things. It felt like they cost too much, like they couldn’t contribute.
“But half would only be—” Mal peeked over Emerson’s shoulder at the number on the old card reader the library worker had turned to them.
Half would be a whole Wednesday-night shift at Dollar City. Mal’s insides felt cold with embarrassment.
“Listen, let me take advantage of my moms in peace, Mal,” Emerson joked, shaking a bank card that readROSE PIKEand then tapping it to the machine. “We’ll earn it back in no time. I promise.”
Mal sighed but relented; they didn’t have a shift’s worth of extra funds to pay with right now anyway. They resolved that theywouldearn it back, even if thehowpart was still to be determined. Part of what they loved about Emerson was that she felt like Mal’s equal in every way. Being reminded that they stood on uneven ground in this one very large, very embarrassing way made them uncomfortable.
Mal shifted from foot to foot at the desk, waiting.
CARVING OUR SPACE
IN THIS ISSUE:
HEY, READER!
A Note from the Editors
THROUGH THE GARDEN OF GEMS AND DAHLIAS,
CHAPTER 10: THE THRONE ROOM
Serial fictionby Stella Willen
Illustrationby @AudraArtStudios
STELLA says:“The Throne Room is a reflection of Talia reclaiming her power and place in the world—and of Xarrett’s unquenchable desire for her.”
I KNOW A SPOT
Photo essayby Kodi Jones
KODI says:“In this photo essay, I humbly invite you to visit reclaimed queer hangouts around Covington.”
“LIVE FROM THE BIG AND TALL STORE”
Short fictionby James King
JAMES says:“To carve our space we must first occupy it. This short story follows Arthur, a gay, fat teen boy, as he takes his first trip to a big and tall menswear store. Among the racks, he finds more than clothes that finally fit.”
HOME TO GO!
Patchwork poemby Emerson Pike
EMERSON! says:“One of the first places I found myself was in the song lyrics of sapphic queens like Chappell Roan and Julien Baker. Using the foundation they laid, I made a new poem. I hope you find yourself in it too.”
ODE TO AN OLD TABLE
Poemby Nylan Hassan
NYLAN says:“This zine was lovingly crafted at an old table, so I lovingly crafted a poem for it.”
THE EARTH ADVENTURES OF BLU AND AMBER
