She was dirty.

Introducing the first in a series of vignettes, mini-sketches of life and work at the border written by members of Angry Tias and Abuelas.

She was dirty.  Not just her clothes.  Her arms and face had traces of the same river clay.  The princess bag sitting next to her was filled with a comfy princess blanket, matching coloring book, colors and a doll all teal, pink and the brightest white.  A stark contrast to the little girl.  She knew it.  I asked her to take an item from the bag so I might photograph her with it.  "No, I will wait until I am clean."  She was ready for a fresh start.  She could see it.  Headed towards her sponsors in the US, she was headed toward her fresh start.  But, she knew she hadn't made it yet.  I will never really see her wrapped in her princess blanket with clean braided hair, dressed in a ballerina's tutu, pink sandals and a smile on her face, but when I close my eyes, I do, every day.  Written by Elizabeth Cavazos

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