The Black Girl Survives in This One: "The Skittering Thing" by Monica Brashears

by Desiree S. Evans, Saraciea J. Fennell
Here are links to our lists in the anthology: Harvesters, Welcome Back To The Cosmos, Ghost Light, The Brides Of Devil’s Bayou, TMI, Black Pride, The Screamers, Queeniums For Greenium!, Inheritance, Black Girl Nature Group, Cemetery Dance Party, The Skittering Thing, The Black Strings, Local Color, Foxhunt
15 words 7 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. sleek
    having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
    But it ends up beautiful and sleek, and everyone at school says so, even the lunch ladies.
  2. miscalculate
    compute incorrectly
    I bet she’s never had a panic attack all because someone started talking about how they miscalculated with 2012, how the world will actually end this December.
  3. mingle
    bring or combine together or with something else
    They shake soft in the breeze, and I remember Grandmother saying that in the end, the first trumpet would bring down hail and fire mingled with blood, how it would kill a third of all trees.
  4. occult
    supernatural practices and techniques
    Which is wild to me because Grandmother wouldn’t even let me watch The Fairly OddParents, said it was tied to the occult and served as satanic propaganda.
  5. deja vu
    the experience of thinking a new situation already occurred
    Charlotte wraps her arm in mine and whispers, “I just got déjà vu.”
  6. anoint
    administer an oil or ointment to, often ceremonially
    He reaches to shake my hand, and I can’t help but think of the churches that anoint with oil, only his anointing is neon-yellow ink.
  7. scurry
    move about or proceed hurriedly
    Charlotte whispers, quick, “I’ve been in this house before,” then scurries into the kitchen, hungry for more information.
  8. dread
    fearful expectation or anticipation
    Ray calls out my name, and I follow her voice with a curdling dread.
  9. sliver
    a thin fragment or slice that has been shaved from something
    At the table, the food is passed around: hamburger steak with gravy and mushroom slivers, over-roasted brussels sprouts, Texas toast.
  10. condemnation
    an expression of strong disapproval
    The preacher gives her a gentle look of condemnation.
  11. veer
    turn sharply; change direction abruptly
    Again, my thoughts veer to the first beast, how Grandmother said it’d aim to gobble up the faithful.
  12. gruff
    blunt and unfriendly or stern
    From upstairs, Ray’s dad calls in a gruff voice, one I hadn’t heard him use, “Sunset.”
  13. vacant
    not containing anyone or anything; unfilled or unoccupied
    I stop crawling and stretch my hands in search of Charlotte, but I’m met with vacant air.
  14. savor
    derive or receive pleasure from
    He presses his wet nose against my leg and licks, probably savoring the memory of dinner.
  15. feigned
    not genuine
    My eyes can just make out her feigned surprise and then a grin that doesn’t reach her eyes.
Created on Wed Sep 10 03:40:20 EDT 2025 (updated Fri Sep 12 11:27:27 EDT 2025)

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