Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Buzz
Bu–

I swiftly slap the mosquito off my thigh
Sitting on the awkward frame of a thin cotton-covered cot
Spine as rigid as a ruler,

I look up at the
Warren of sticks, barely holding together the feeble palm thatch roof
Worn viscid gray by rays of scorching sun

Feet sweating,
Cemented to the smooth stone floor.

Clink-fizz
Marble pops
As I sip soda that the man gave to me from his cart
For free
As he was passing by

Damp cold glass on my fingertips
Piquant bubbles fluttering on my tongue
Plastic bags fluttering on “walls”

As I stretch my arms high above my head they cut through the velvet of my body and the humid droplet air and I heave a heavy breath.

Grandmother is sitting on the bed
Fiddling with the television antennae
She looks up

Smiling ear-to-ear
Several teeth missing.