A Little Ray of Sunshine

When the sky is gray and gloomy
I take my rusted red wagon
That was once my fathers, his father’s father’s
Passed down to me
And I pull on my winter coat
Tattered on the elbows, missing two little buttons,
To keep me warm as I take the clattering elevator down
And open the rickety door onto
The streets of Oakland’s Chinatown.
Down passed the chickens roasting, the pork heads in the window
The side walk cracks
And the old crones crying for cheap dim sum.
Down, down, down wagon rattling,
To the little corner street bakery,
Where each little pastry is a burst of sunlight
On a palate as gray and gloomy as the sky.
One pecan cookie for my sister.
Two rice cakes for the twins.
A sesame bean cake for grandmother.
Mochi for mami.
Five steamed pork buns for our dinner.
I tuck the medicine pink box into my wagon
And start on my way.
A nickel jingles in my pocket.
I nibble on half of my sister’s cookie.
Every day we share a cookie.
With our savings
We plan to buy a bike.