Military Brother, Single Mother, 7 siblings, Jose

outside at old Church
on Friday evening, Jose,
14, sobs in his mother's
arms, dressed in cap
and gown, his 8th grade
graduation.

She says
"do you know how much I love you?"
over and over, rocking him.

I stand there.
I am lucky.

The moment passes, his eyes
look to me, his art teacher,
and he hugs me too, the
weight of his future on
my shoulder. 

"the beautiful dogwood on Buena street had no other choice but to become the beautiful dogwood on Buena street.."

Jose can be anything. 

* Jose is Louie's Brother