Are you sure you don’t want
to join us this long weekend?
Camping here
is like going
to the beach back home.
You might be anxious now,
but driving here is actually a breeze
especially in Oakville.
I bought this car second-hand,
just with a G1 license.
After two years here,
either I go to back school
and resume being a nurse
or spend that tuition money
to petition my kids.
The sooner I don’t have to deal
with their father, the better, so
I made the obvious choice
of taking in early morning shifts
baking muffins at a Tim Hortons
on top of days at the seniors’ home.
I come in at eleven and leave
at four just before the morning rush.
I can’t rely on buses,
thank God
the road was always dark
and peaceful.
I sang along to my radio,
often this exact song,
take me Jesus
to keep the dread of being stopped
by cops at bay.
I said to myself,
traffic laws here are broken
for much less
noble reasons.
Author Bio

Eric Abalajon
Eric Abalajon (he/him) is currently a lecturer at the University of the Philippines Visayas, Iloilo. Some of his works have appeared in Revolt Magazine, Loch Raven Review, Ani, and Katitikan. Under the pen name Jacob Laneria, his zine of short fiction, Mga Migranteng Sandali, is distributed by Kasingkasing Press. He lives near Iloilo City. @jacob_laneria (Instagram), @JLaneria (twitter)