There she stands in the kitchen in front of the
silver stove, stirring a ladle in her right hand and
sprinkling a pinch of salt with her left. In her ears are
wireless ear phones. She chats on the phone with her
sisters far away in Minnesota. Her permed black hair
gleams and shines, happy that today the April sun and rain
takes turn visiting Oklahoma, helping her lettuce, mint
herbs, and cucumbers touch the sky. Her ready smile and
laughing eyes twinkle. Once and a while she would step
gracefully out of the kitchen into the living room, her jade
bracelet twinkling, blue prairie skirt twirling, and black
smooth hair bouncing, to seek my youngest sister and
tickle her to laughing fits. I smile.