LatinosUSA

Where the bread’s as fresh as your mouth.

The sign said “We’re open but if

you have a cough you can’t come in.”

Another said “Don’t ride it like a cowboy.

Use the glove instead” and pointed to

a box on the bench by the door.

Aside from that and having to wear

a mask it was all the same warm smell

with the same girl behind

the counter. But this was different:

A woman crouching in the aisle

so her husband wouldn’t

find her. She said at least he spared

the kids. The door banged open

and he jumped in sneering like when he

stood at the end of his driveway

threatening to jump in front

of oncoming cars. He wasn’t her

husband. He wasn’t the one she was

afraid of. He was someone I did

my best to avoid. I bought  

my bread and lowered my head,

pushing through the door with my elbow.