“Do you believe in God?”
Today was not the day to ask me. 
I continued walking past the makeshift 
homeless looking missionary. The sun 
scorched my back. Nothing prepares
a child for the day she’ll grab
her wallet and roller blades, and take
the next bus downtown.
I worried for my brother. I left him at home
with a dead best friend and two parents. I 
assumed, though, he made it to his middle
school friend’s house across the road. 
I bought a hotdog from a food card 
because chewing when anxious 
never hurts, and often helps. 
I wolfed it down and strapped on my
blades and rolled as fast as I could.