10.04.02 - 12:14 p.m.

maria thinks im going to abandon her, lose
patience and decide that i dont have time to
help her anymore. and theres no way i can say
maria, helping you read better, sitting
with you in the library for three hours a
week, writing stories about painting classes
and easter sunday and the grandchildren you
dont see enough because they cant understand
your adorable accent, talking about the
husband who never learned to speak spanish
and the adult ed. teacher who swore at you
for declining to become a citizen and give
up the property you own in mexico, the
farm you grew up on, the house your father and
grandfather built
is all that makes me feel alive these days.