Meg Tilley Anderson

American

B. 1949-

Reliquary Triptych – Fred West's Watch

Fred West gave us this watch when he was buying my surplus dairy goats. His reports of angels and miraculous golden fishes grew credible as our Garden of Eden in Parrott was torn apart by officials we trusted to protect us. Before I was disenfranchised, I did not fully understand what it is like to live in a prejudiced society. I believed that if you followed the Golden Rule, obeyed the law, gave to your community, and left the world none the worse for wear everything would be ok. However, I learned that if you are different you won't be given a chance to tell your side of the story because prejudiced people are afraid to be proven wrong, afraid of having to change, afraid to lose control. The joke's on them: the only constant is change. If your mind's not open, you won't understand the angels and you'll have to put up with whatever happens. If only I'd heard the angels say, "Pay attention, and speak up" before all the trouble.