A Seed in the Sun by Aida Salazar

Author:Aida Salazar [Salazar, Aida]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2022-10-25T00:00:00+00:00

CLINICAL MAMÁ

Mamá’s body is a slow

drip of honey

as she lies down and says,

“I’m so tired.”

Rafa makes her comfortable

by propping her head up

on two pillows.

I pull Concha to the side

to ask what the doctors had to say.

She tells me they didn’t see

a doctor but nurses who

couldn’t tell them much until

the results of tests they gave her come back.

They say they suspect

Mamá’s been exposed to Parathion,

a pesticide they spray in the fields.

“So, Doña Serafina was right?” I ask.

“We can’t be sure just yet. But they did say we should keep giving her Doña Serafina’s herbs because they seem to be working. She’s better off than others they’ve seen.”

“Concha, do people die because of Parathion?”

“They said they’ve known of one death, a little boy, but most people recover within two to five months depending on how bad it is.”

“They also noticed a rash on her arms and neck,” she adds, concern growing across her face.

“They said it looks cancerous but the tests will tell us for sure,” Rafa says.

I start to cry

because I know cancer is something

that sometimes kills people.

Both Concha and Rafa shake their heads at me.

I swallow my tears and nod

when I realize they don’t want

to worry Mamá.

Then I ask them another question.

“Did they ask you for money?”

“That's probably the only good news,” Rafa says,

“the clinic is free for all members of the association.”

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