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His bracelet says that he is 2 years old.

from The Icebox and the Doghouse by Joshua Kirch

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lyrics

### June 19 TRO Declarations
Exhibit 41 ("Who wants to take care of this little boy")

I came from El Salvador with my brothers, 11 and 19. I'm 15.
We came to be with our motherin the United States
because gangs were threatening us.
They came to our house and beat up our aunt
So we had to leave before they came back.

They took our older brother to another facility
And then brought my younger brother and me here
At first my brother and I were together
But then they said he could not be in the same room.

A Border patrol agent came into our room
With a two year old boy and asked us
Who wants to take care of this little boy
Another girl said she would take care of him
but she lost interest so I started taking care of him yesterday
His bracelet says he is two years old.

I feed the 2 year old boy, change his diaper, and play with him.
He is sick. He has a cough, and a runny nose And scabs on his lips.
He was coughing last night so I asked to take him to see the doctor.
And they told me that the doctor would come to our room
But the doctor never came.

The little boy that I am taking care of never speaks.
He likes for me to hold him as much as possible.

We live in room 203 with 25 children.
I estimate that it is about 10 by 15.
The first night I slept on the concrete ground
And used the blanket to cover me because it was so cold.
I could not sleep because I was so cold and my head hurt.
Yesterday, some of the girls left and so I was able to get one of the beds.
Last night, the little boy and I were able to sleep in the bed together.

Today a nurse got mad at us because a comb is missing.
Two guirls asked to use a comb but only one was returned.
We are not allowed to keep combs,
so they came in and took out all of the beds
and all of the blankets
in order to punish us.
Now we will have to sleep on the floor.

In our room there are two toilets and a sink.
One toilet is out in the open and the other is in a stall with no door
So there is no privacy when we go to the bathroom
There is no soap.
We eat in the same room.
Some of the children have to eat on the floor.
I have to change the little boy's diaper on the bed.

Since arriving here, I have never been outside and have never taken a shower.

credits

from The Icebox and the Doghouse, released April 24, 2020
Reading by Elisa Abatsis

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Joshua Kirch Massachusetts

Joshua Kirch is a musician and composer who started with guitar, and soon moved to classical guitar and performing in a guitar trio; really enjoying the range of repertoire (especially the Renaissance pieces) available. This led him to learn the lute and cello.
His compositions mix electronic elements with classical and early music instruments and themes, as well as more standard rock and folk.
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