My Mother Locked the Gate on Me

Not because it was funny.

Because the body does stupid things when it can’t find the right one.

“So at the gate,” I said, “you knew.”

My mother closed her eyes.

Maribel whispered, “Mom.”

Celeste opened them again.

“There were guests,” she said.

That was all.

There were guests.

I had crossed oceans, ridden home half-sick with jet lag and airport coffee in my continue reading …