Audi Commercial, Superbowl XLVII (short version)

 They say everyone in your dreams

 is actually you.
TV Commercials are meant to be every bit like dreams:
brief distortions of reality that in the moment seem so plausible.

 This year, my little girl and I watched the Superbowl for the dreams.

Did you catch this one?

 The slouching teenage boy

 in the tuxedo is you.

 Mom, who is also you,

 reassures you that lots of kids

 go the prom without a girlfriend.

 Your kid sister

"No, they dont..."

And Dad,

 "have fun tonight."

are also you,

You  toss you the keys to an Audi

 An suddenly you are cruising the streets

 parking in the principal's private spot

 which says everything it needs to

 about the change that has come over you

Because of a car.

 Here you go,

 strutting confidently down the school corridors,

 pushing boldly through the crowd,

 eyes fixed on the object of your desire,

the girl in the tiara.

 Her back is turned.

 You grab her, spin her around

 like you have always wanted to,

 ignore the look of surprise on her face

  pull her toward you

 kiss her fast and hold it.

The entire prom watches this happen and says, “Ooh”

 Her prom king boyfriend turns

 in time to see you kiss his girl

 and gives chase.

 Cut to you,

rocketing off in your Audi, alone

 with  a fresh shiner darkening your eye socket

Grinning.

Howling a predator's victory

 as you drive off into the tag line:

 "Bravery.  It's what defines us."

 Dear Audi,

 Sexual contact

 that involves force

 without consent:

How much closer

 to a definition

 does it have to be?

This is your commercial,

targeted to the awkward teens and their fathers

who watch the superbowl.

To the bystanders in Steubenville

Who looked on and only said, “Ooh!”

You have given them this dream.

Or have you forgotten…

 You are also the girl in the tiara,

 Prom queen,  

 Smiling and happier than you have ever been.

Til you are grabbed, spun, kissed, shamed in front of every friend you have on what should have been the best night of your life.

 Bravery is not

 taking what is not yours

 because you think it should be.

 Bravery starts with getting your own prom date.

 Your car will not do this for you.

 Talk to a girl, awkward boy.

 Ask her if she wants to dance

 or get a coffee,

 or kiss you on the mouth in the middle of the prom

 but when she says no,

and she will,

bravery is the willingness to be rejected,

 to take no for an answer,

 and to be ok with that.

 You are both of them.

 in love with the idea of yourself

 stealing your own dignity

 and thinking you got away with something.

 This will not be the dream

 you will give to my children.

 I will teach my daughter to be brave,

 that she is not just a pretty thing in a tiara

 to be coveted by cretins,

 that there is no love to be found in an ambush

 and that she doesn’t need a prom king

 to throw her punches for her.

 As your eye swells closed

 in its socket,

 perhaps you will remember.

 She is the prom king.

 Bravery.  It's what defines us.