Photo by Robert Collins
Our Childhood
We survived it
Two brothers
One sister
And me
Quarantine weekends
No pandemic
We were poor
No money for Happy Meals
No time for beach days
No love for lazy Sundays
Hands could never be idle
Our single mother had ordered
Hands scrubbed surfaces
Fingers reached corners
Feet danced with broom
Strength of bleach a perfume
Windows barred the outside
Boiling water on stove
Beans or rice submerged
Chicken or beef on counter
World pandemic
Indefinite quarantine
We are prepared
We don’t need much
Two brothers
One sister
And me
There’s love for humble food
Gratefulness for helping hands
Recognition of soft hearts
We know that animals help heal
& that all nightmares end
The Author
Casandra Hernández Ríos received her MFA in Creative Writing, Fiction, from CSU Long Beach. She holds a BA in Creative Writing and Journalism from the same school. Her fiction has been recognized by Glimmer Train Press, and has appeared in In Parentheses, The Acentos Review, Golden Streetcar, Spectrum Literary Journal, Verdad magazine, Two Sisters, and the Santa Ana River Review. She teaches English at Golden West College and Long Beach City College.
Casandra Hernández Ríos