The Tank
The Tank
On empty, we drove on.
There was no place to stop anyway.
We got in the car before dawn,
the kids in the back seat.
the dog with them.
“Good girl, good girl” stayed silent.
She knew…
Pocket money tight,
But mom said, “get to the border.”
Pa will come for us.
He always came, every time…
Since I was five.
Since I can remember.
I kept the ten spot, in case…
I don’t know.
I should have put it in.
I hate myself.
If I fail,
I fail them.
The engine stutters.
It continues.
Dawn, the sun rises…
slowly.
The kids asleep.
Sally watchful over them.
Still ever quiet. “good girl”
The border is not far.
There is a slight wind…
“E”
Red line for far…very far…
too long.
“Ma’am, carrying in fruits or vegetables?”
He stared in the driver’s window.
Where did he come from?
His voice strong and sure, but suspicious.
“No.”
“Okay, welcome to Arizona.”
One mile in… Pa found us.
The kid’s woke up
as he hitched up
his truck to mine.
Towing us to a better life.
Thank you, God.
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