Читать книгу The Poet X – WINNER OF THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2019 - Элизабет Асеведо - Страница 32

The Routine

Is the same every school year:

I go straight home after school

and since Mami says that I’m “la niña de la casa,”

it’s my job to help her out around the house.

So after school I eat an apple—my favorite snack—

wash dishes, and sweep.

Dust around Mami’s altar to La Virgen María

and avoid Papi’s TV if he’s home

because he hates when I clean in front of it

while he’s trying to watch las noticias or a Red Sox game.

It’s one of the few things Twin and I argue about,

how he never has to do half the cleaning shit I do

but is still better liked by Mami.

He helps me when he’s home, folds the laundry

or scrubs the tub. But he won’t get in trouble if he doesn’t.

I hear one of Mami’s famous sayings in my ear,

“Mira, muchacha, life ain’t fair,

that’s why we have to earn our entrance into heaven.”