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“Good But you already know this”

I shrug She works part time at a local corner store to keep herself busy and put spending change in her pocket I check in froood to let the out for her It keeps thes and I pitch in to pay the bills for the home It’s the least we can do as hard as she worked to keep us clothed and happy growing up In the blink of an eye, she’d gone fro two or three jobs to et that

“I don’t knohat you mean, Ma,

” I say

“Mmm hmm You’ll stay and visit with the others?”

“Yeah, I have time to do that”

“Good, you work too hard, mijo You have to take time away from the shop”

“I know I’ on it”

“Oh, this woood for you”

I laugh “No I’ve just gotten the business in a place where I feel safe to take a small step away”

“Always reet to have a life” I see the pain in her eyes, and I know she’s thinking aboutfor us

I reach across the table, grab her hand, and squeeze “I promise I won’t, Ma”

“Then I can ask for nothing et the rice started for dinner tonight now”

I watch her walk to the white cabinets we’ve repainted more times than I can count and smile We did the best we could with the hand ere dealt, and I think we did well

Chapter Six