how I became indebted to a fourteen year old
I haven’t figured out what good parenting looks like
maybe a dollar to not skip class two
to sleep early to sleep before 2AM to sleep
how much is one yen worth? morning matcha
to train my brother’s palate as I have been for the past thirteen years I taught him how to smile at sriracha
despite our sweet-toothed ancestry and there are things we can’t unlearn but I want him to know what love looks like maybe
experimenting with caffeinated drinks in the kitchen together and turning away when sugar on the tablespoon piles too high
Noreen Ocampo (she/her) is a Filipina American writer and poet based in metro-Atlanta. She studies English, film, and media at Emory University and currently writes for COUNTERCLOCK and {m}aganda magazine. She is also a regular contributor for Marías at Sampaguitas. Say hi on Twitter @maybenoreen!