Barbie doll in hand,
they push her sobbing
into the front seat.
6 years of living
hadn’t prepared her
for 5 hours encased in bus
an absent driver
side-glancing by request
at her and cross-armed
sister. They journey
west-ward, their mother
called after boarding
and a wave goodbye, too
late to follow promises
of a lincoln town
car ride home
by a father occupied by
brand new family games.