घुड़सवार

From the road outside of our motel

someone noticed Mom’s pink Cadillac

parked in front of that Ogden Utah Super 8

perhaps it looked out of place

we were right inside the door

that the car sat in front of

Tiffany, Mom, Nana, and me

making our way on a long road trip

from San Diego to Powell Wyoming

to visit one of my mother’s best friends

My sister and I bickered in the back seat

until my mom got so tired of it

that she let nearly 16-year-old me drive

on the winding two lane roads

leaving Nana in the front seat

hugging the passenger side door

crying out “You’re hugging the right!”

while all I could do was

keep my eyes wide

my hands at 10 and 2

and struggle to stay out of the way

of the oncoming traffic

As we slept that night

someone got closer than they should have

breaking the glass of the driver side window

reaching in helping themselves to Mom’s wallet

full of the cash taken out to pay for our trip

leaving glass strewn about

a scene to leave my mother in far more panic

than my novice driving did

That morning my sister cried

at only nine she wasn’t accustomed

to seeing our mom look so scared

so flustered

so powerless

Mom said it would be okay though at the time

I am sure she wasn’t sure how it would be

From farther away it may appear to be a large weed

then a closer look reveals a strong shrub with tree-like entangled branches

stronger than you might expect

taking a moment to look even closer

studying the yellow flowers of the antelope bitterbush

that line parts of that Utah highway

may show you how it belongs in the rose family