US AND THEM
Carrie Stoner
Hi! My name is Maria. I am a 13-year old girl who has lived in
South Phoenix all of my life. I live just off of the Jesse Owens Parkway on 5th
Street. My father is the produce manager for Food City, a neighborhood grocery
store. He works hard for his paycheck. My mother is a counter clerk at
Carolina’s where they sell the best tortillas. She also works very hard for her
paycheck. Unfortunately, neither one of them can get health insurance for our
family because they say it is just way too expensive.
Today, my little sister is very sick. We have tried several times to take her to the medical clinic that advertises “walk-ins welcome – same day service” but we have yet to see a doctor. My parents are afraid that if her fever continues to stay above 104, she will die. What I really don’t understand is how my best friend’s cousin, who just had a sore throat (not even a fever), went to the same clinic and was seen by a doctor on her very first visit. I don’t know, maybe it has something to do with the fact that she lives in one of those new gated communities.
About which, by the way, why are they gated? What is it that they are trying to hide from? Why would someone buy a home just to hide it behind walls? I live in a very safe neighborhood where I have known every single one of my neighbors since the day I was born. Why would anyone want to hide from us?
More importantly, why is it they can receive medical care that we can’t. After all, the clinics were built for us, not them. I’m not sure what’s going to happen to my little sister but it just seems so sad that she can’t even talk to a doctor while my best friend’s cousin gets to see one on her very first visit.