…had to go away. It was not forever. Mama told the rest of them to stay inside until she came home. Lucia watched them get in the taxi and thought that Cecilia would like a ride in a taxi. The rest were watching TV, but no one sang along with the commercials. Lucia heard Cecilia ask Mama why she was crying, and then left the window to sit in Sofia’s lap. She was warm. A car’s engine hummed and gravel…

By Christina Rauh Fishburne