Eastern Glow

The boxes, full of family photo albums that have been sitting in the back porch since spring, have been loaded into the back of the van along with quilts my grandmother made, to be given when me and my sister get married. The dog’s on his leash. The cats are in their carrier. The mouse in its cage.

Mom locks the door behind her. Dad loads up the last of our belongings. It is crowded. There is too much to take and too much to leave behind.

We drive southwest, away from the smoke and fire, away from our home.