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Tapahonso 

Luci Tapahonso
Navajo, b.1953

 
"Pay Up or Else"

 

Vincent Watchman was shot
in the head February 12
because he owed 97c at
        a Thriftway gas station.

While he lay dead,
the anglo gas boy said
        I only meant to shoot out
        his car tires and scare him.
He fired 2 poor shots – one in the head,
        one in the rear window and
the police cited him for
shooting a firearm within city limits.

Meanwhile, Thriftway officials in Farmington
expressed shock
        It's not company policy, after all,
        to shoot Navajo customers who run
        overflows in the self-serve pumps.
        This man will definitely be fired.

        There is no way that such an action
        can be justified, the official said

while we realized our lives weren't worth a dollar
        and a 24-year-old Ganado man never used
        the $3 worth of gas he paid for.

© Luci Tapahonso
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