Opinion: Tina’s tune

West Palm Beach, Florida, 2028. On Monday, three-year-old Tina Morales sat by the screened-in window of her parents’ pole-barn bungalow from which she could see the Atlantic Ocean in the distance. As usual, she sang her favorite song, Ten Little Sailboats.

While her mother prepared lunch, she enjoyed listening to the small voice: One little, two little, three little sailboats. Four little, five little, six little sailboats… It was the daily ritual for mother and daughter while Tina’s father was working at the Brightline High-Speed Rail service yard nearby. 

When Flora brought the bologna sandwich and glass of Kool-Aid to her daughter, Tina said, “I’m not hungry, Mama,” but she accepted the glass of Tropical-Punch-flavored water. When Tina’s father got home and the family sat down to dinner, Tina mostly played with her food, eating part of her hot dog and a few spoonfuls of baked beans.