Mango Moon

A mean boy at school said, “They took your dad away because he did something bad.” It made me feel sad and mad at the same time. Mama says Papi never did anything wrong; he just didn’t have papers.

I got scared and asked if they could take her away too or even me and my brother. She said my brother and I were safe because we were born here, and that she had a special card that kept her safe. I wish they’d give Papi a card so he could be safe with us, too.

Papi writes me little notes that come in the mail with letters to Mama. It is exciting to get my own mail, but I would rather have my dad here instead. I keep all the notes in a jewelry box I got for my birthday. When I miss Papi a lot, I take them out and read them again and again.

She tells me love is like the orange moon, that Papi and I feel its glow no matter where we are.

The orange moon is high in the night sky now

I wonder if Papi is thinking about me too, under the same mango moon.