We Were in this Together

they arrived not in one car, bringing three overkill I thought, a scare tactic the entire neighborhood was watching behind flimsy curtains, peeking between blinds who was it going to be? most of us had at least one relative who could be taken I held my breath as they headed toward my house. Was it Uncle Jesus? I let my breath go as they passed me. No. Not Mrs. Rodreguez. She has three children in school. And their father has been long gone. We neighbors watched as they escorted her down the block. She was sobbing. We were all sobbing, silently. Which one of us would take care of her children? The neighbor on the other side of me caught my eyes. We had never met before this day. But I knew at this moment we were in this together. We would take care of the children.