Summary

The author encounters a migrant trying to reach his daughter in California, but who is sent back to the border after two days in the desert. The author gives him an undershirt, buys him food, and then drives him to the border, the man speaking of his homeland.

The author helps a snake through a fence, studying its tracks in the dirt as it moves on.

The author tries to answer the questions of a woman, desperate for news of her son, whom she has not heard from for several days. As he describes the encounter, he is not able to remember what he told her, or what information he took from her, but does remember thinking about the man trying to reach his daughter. He goes home and calls his mother, reassuring her that he is all right.

Another history...