The girl on the bus

The girl smiles shyly
from the window of the bus
as Christian snaps her picture.
She rides to the maquila
where she stitches a sweatshirt
for a football player in the states.
Someday her little brother
will tug that shirt
from a bale of discarded clothing
sent to Honduras by Christian’s church.
He’ll cut off the sleeves
and wear it for 2 years.
At the end of the day
she returns to the house
that she shares with her father, her brother,
her big sister, and little nephew.
In one room they eat, sleep, live.
Her sister Maria turns tortillas with her fingertips,
nearly burning them on the hot black frying pan.
It was Maria
who got her the job at the maquila .
But Maria doesn’t work there any more.
The big boss discovered the secret
about the sickness
and sent her away.
Now she sews tote bags behind the clinic
with her son playing by her side.
One day I will return
carrying more medicine for Maria
in the tote bag.