Leila has always worked hard
to keep up with Gamal.
There are days when Gamal helps Leila.
And there are days
when he niggles with her.
Gamal has shown Leila
how to play soccer with a tin can
that is more bent than she is.
When they first started to play,
Gamal taught Leila to use her stumpy feet
to make their squashed-in can pop
through tall grass,
and bounce over dunes.
Leila isn’t fast,
but she’s determined.
Old Anwar crafted crutches for Leila,
two sturdy,
sanded branches.
My bent baby sister took the crutches,
but refused to use them.