Before I leave for college,
I decide to fix Mom’s glass fish.
Bring it to Gloria, ask if she can help.
She has just the thing,
leads me to the back of the store.
Clamps.
Epoxy glue.
Tells me it will take a few minutes.
We fit tail
to fin
to head.
While she works,
I thank her for all she did for our family.
How even though he died,
she gave us much-needed time.
She smiles,
tells me to visit her
when I return.
When she’s finished,
the fish doesn’t look perfect,
but it’s whole again—
scarred,
and repaired, in places.