watching weeds grow

two little girls grew up
as different as they are alike
fair hair and skin
soft freckles dot cheeks and arms

one moves about in a classroom
rattling around in black scrubs
among widely spaced students
staring at screens

the other moves from one home
to another, restless, alert
dreams fill her head as she walks
among friends and strangers

and just today one bakes cakes
spread out across Mom’s buffet
while the other flies back to Mexico
resident stamped inside her passport