 |
|
|
|
|
It was market day in Felicidad,
a small village in El Salvador.
"¡Apurate, Paco! Hurry!"
María told her stuffed bear.
"We are going to the market
with Papa."
María ran out to the porch.
The wooden table and chair
were gone.
Only Papa's rocking chair
was still there.
"We won't ask
where Mama will sit now,"
María told Paco.
"There will still be
room for us
in Papa's lap."
"María, where are you?" Papa called.
"Espera, Papa," she cried. "Wait!
Don't leave without me!"
María climbed into their wagon.
She saw Papa's old tools.
How could Papa work without them?
"We can't leave yet," said Papa.
"Your mama is still talking."
Mama frowned.
"It isn't funny," she said.
"At the market you must try to trade
for milk for the children,
and some butter and eggs, too."
"I wish I could help, Papa,"
María said softly.
Papa smiled and hugged her.
"Ah, but you do help!" he said.
"You and your little bear
make me laugh."
At the market, María said to Paco,
"What can we do to help our family?
It isn't enough to make Papa laugh.
Copyright ©1996 by Elaine Marie Alphin