I set the plate on the ticketto stop the paper's edge from curlingĐức has just brought in the serving trayhe lifts the plate to lookdipping sauce falls on his thumbhe wipes it on the napkin's edge
He reads the destinationthen the day the bus leavesout in the yard they are tyingthe longevity character to the gourd trellishe calls his sister overboth bend down close
Leave it thereI haven't finished eating
I bought the ticket Friday afternoonthe woman at the counter asked twicewill someone be there to meet youI gave my younger sister's nameshe added a small row of numberson the back of the receipt
Đức holds his phone closeasks how long Mum plans to stayI say I'll be back on Thursdayand move the ginger to the plate's edgehe spreads the map widerhis finger still sticky with soy sauce
They ordered it last yearthe red blouse for me to wearthe collar's been fastened two different waysit still presses beneath my chinI slip a finger into itĐạt brings another cushion
Leave it thereI haven't finished eating
Đức says let me book it againthere's a later bus as welljust as his hand touches the ticketI pull the plate closer
Under the plate is another small linethe bus picks up across the roadhe lowers his head to read it againI tilt the plate so he can seea streak of oil runs across the seat numberright to my son's fingernail