Tears stream down my hot, sweaty cheeks

My arms, my back and legs sting

Burning, bright red welts rise

I rest my face on the cool tile floor

My hair sticks to my face, my neck, it falls into my mouth

The baby is strapped in her highchair

Crusted with strained peas and pureed chicken

She cries for her Sippy cup dropped on the floor

Banging her fists and banging her head

She cries, she shrieks, she kicks the legs of her chair

I see his feet dangle above the ground

She holds him up by his wrist with one hand

Her silver slotted spoon in the other

Swoosh-ka-thump  – a blow lands on his back

He writhers and twists in the air, unable to get his footing

Swoosh-crack – a blow lands on his elbow

Swoosh-thud – a blow lands on his thigh

Swoosh-ka-thump, swoosh-clunk, swoosh-thud

Crying, I push myself up on one elbow

I reach into the air

Stop, I cry, stop you’re going to kill him

Swoosh-crack, swoosh-thump, swoosh-thud

Please, please, please stop I cry covering my eyes

She drops him and settles into an overstuffed chair

We both lay on the ground, we can’t look at each other

She lights a cigarette taking a long, deep drag

The baby is strapped in her highchair, the Sippy cup on the floor

Feed your sister, she says, make her stop crying or I’ll do it for you