The next morning, I pull my hair into a bun and slip on a khaki skirt with a white blouse.91Please respect copyright.PENANAwD0zWZUGEV
"You're going to school?"
"Yeah, I just need to forget everything that's happened."91Please respect copyright.PENANAh4hCoBvEQU
"You don't have your car, and the bus doesn't run this way."
"Actually, Abhi, it's a pretty easy walk from here."91Please respect copyright.PENANAozI7V9pKen
Emaye enters in a dress, looking like she does when she is on duty at the hotel. "I'm going to look for a job this morning. Mou, I expect you home at four-thirty. Abhi, I expect your homework done and on the counter by the end of the day so that I can check it. I called your school and explained that you are sick. Even though I don't expect you to go to school the rest of this week, I certainly do not expect you to get behind. Algebra is giving you enough trouble this year, Abhi." The way Emaye jumps back into life despite everything that is going mesmerizes me. "Breakfast is in the kitchen."
As I enter the kitchen, I say "good-morning" to Ms. Brenda, grabbing toast to go.91Please respect copyright.PENANAp1wLzpURzz
"Can I walk with you?" Bobby asks, unclipping Scrappy's leash as they bound in from outside.
"Sure."
"Have a great day you too. Bobby, make sure you remember the quiet rules today!"
The little guy is already gone.
"I will remind him, Ms. Brenda."
"Thank you." Ms. Brenda gives me a spare key.
Nandita strolls past me in a T-shirt and shorts, her dark curls pulled up into a messy bun, toting her school books begrudgingly.
"Make sure you help clean up the kitchen, Abhi," I whisper.
"Duh, Mou." She rolls her eyes.
"Love you too, brat."
"Same to you, bossypants."
"Are you coming?!" Bobby waits anxiously at the end of the drive with his thumbs jammed under his backpack straps.
Our walk to the bus stop involves Bobby telling me all about the cars we pass: a ford, a cadillac...he has antique cars all over his room, and he and his dad build them together...
"That's really cool, Bobby. You'll have to show me one day."
"Oh, I will show you tonight. I am not allowed to bring them to dinner or leave them in the floor because Scrappy eats everything and Mama always complains when she steps on them. She should just wear shoes more often." He misses a step to demonstrate his untied black K-swiss sneaker.
I chuckle. "Let me tie that for you."
"Oh, I can do it!"
"Hey, dumb-dumb, you finally learned to tie your shoes?!" A big red-headed kid calls from across the street, and two kids snicker beside him.
"Who are they?"
"No one, just go." For once, the poor kid isn't wide-eyed and bushy-tailed.
"Do they bully you?"
"All the time, but I ignore them."
"Is that why you rush to get to the bus?"
"Yeah, I try to get there right when the bus comes or early enough so that I can hide."
"That's awful."
He scrunches his face. "I'll say. One day, I had to walk in the rain because they messed up all my books. It was terrible. I hate them."
"Hey, hey, don't HATE anyone." I nudge his shoulder. "They're just jealous, little man."
He shakes his head. "Jealous of what? I'm in special ed. I have dyslexia. I got kept back, and I'm slow. What is there to be jealous of?"
I shrug. "Well..." I put my finger on my cheek like I'm thinking. "You are incredibly adorable with your perfect dimples. You know anything and everything about cars, and you are incredibly energetic with a personality that could light up the world."
He grins. "No girl has ever said that about me before." He studies the ground. "Madhuri, will you be my girlfriend?"
I laugh. "Sorry, little man, not your girlfriend. Someday, you will find someone your own age. Besides, we are more like family. How about your big sister?"
"Hmmm...I have always wanted a sibling." He pouts. "Mama and Daddy say I'm enough for them." Spitting on his hand, he offers me a handshake. "Deal."
"No thanks, little man. How about a high-five?" I clear my throat. "With your OTHER hand."
"Girls are so WEIRD." He says "weird" in a mockingly high-pitched voice. "YOU'RE the one with coodies."
I laugh for the first time since last night. As I see him to the bus, I alert the bus driver about the problem.
"Thanks, I'll be more aware. He's so quiet, I didn't even know. Will you be walking him from now on?"
I hesitate, but Bobby's big brown eyes stare fix on me expectantly.
"Yes..."
"And who are you?"
"That's my sister!"
The bus driver chuckles. "Alright then."
"Yeah," I say, eyeing the kids. "And no one better bother my little brother again. I will be waiting here at the bus stop after school."
The bus driver nods. "Yes ma'am, and I will be watching from now on. I won't have any bullying on my bus, Lincoln, Van, and Carl. I will personally write to your parents about your behavior and expel you from my bus the rest of the year if I even catch you or ANYONE ELSE even looking at someone wrong. Understood, kids?"
"Yes sir."
He nods to me, and I nod back. "Thank you."
As I watch the bus drive away, I suddenly feel hungry again.Using GPS, I find a yogurt shop about a mile down the street in the city square. I blend my own flavors and pay with my debit card. Fortunately, Bapi didn't cancel my account and the money I made working at the nursing home last summer. I love helping the needy. Maybe that's why I want to be a doctor despite my queasy stomach.
As I finally take the time to read through missed calls and text messages, I realize most of them are from Jayanand. One of them is from Julie, and I tell her we made it safely. She assures me she got all our stuff. I assure Danica I am okay, as she noticed we are not at school today. I assure Roman the same---guess Nandita isn't answering text messages. I text Jayanand that I will call him later. Apparently, he heard Bapi's side of the story from his Baba's phone call last night. I roll my eyes. How can I be so angry at my father?
"Everything alright?" the young, very attractive green-eyed man asks from behind the counter.
I realize I have the spoon in my mouth and froyo leaking on the counter in front of me. "I am soo sorry!"
"Yeah, don't worry about it. Bigger messes than this. Trust me."
Still, I snatch the rag from him to clean up the mess. "I am usually sooo meticulous. I just have a lot on my mind."
He laughs. "I wish more of the employees were like you. We try to hire as many high-schoolers as we can, but goodness, sometimes..."
I pause, thinking. Emaye needs help, and the school year is almost over.
"Are they hiring for the weekends?"
He leans against the counter, frowning. "Well, we're usually willing to work with kids, and I know a lot of the staff are going on summer vacation soon. A few positions will be open then."
"Whom do I speak to?"
He smiles. "I can tell you have a lot on your mind and that you are really trying to make yourself right again. I admire that in a young person, so I'll save a position for you."
"Excuse me?"
"You are talking to the establishment owner." He tosses the rag in a sink.
"But you are so young---"
"Actually, I'm thirty-five, but was blessed with the gift of a youthful face." He wiggles his eyebrows. "Just married last fall, and they think my wife's a cradle robber."
I laugh.
"It's good to see you smile. You looked so distraught when you walked in. Let me tell you, kiddo---Keep your head up. Things will work out."
"Thank you."
He straightens his striped shirt with a nod, back to business disposition. "Come back a few weeks before you start summer so that I can train you. You will have to jump right in on the summer crowds. I will have your uniform and your equipment. Now, I require all high school employees to bring a copy of their report card. This job is second to school."
"Yes sir, you don't have to worry about me. I'm working to be a doctor"
"Good. Keep it up."
I finish what hasn't melted and exit the building. When I notice the hair parlor next door, something draws me to it.---anger boiling inside me---Bapi always believed women should have long hair.
The lady greets me as soon as I walk in. "What can I do for you--"
"Please, a full haircut." Silent anger turns into tears that I barely manage to hold in.91Please respect copyright.PENANAmZsJmIwGHg
"Uhhh, okay. My name is Vanessa. Come sit in my chair." She surveys my thick ringlets. "Your hair is so pretty, though. Look at these curl. If I had these curls--"
"You would be so happy," I murmur as the tears burn a whole in the back of my throat and trail down my cheeks. "I've heard that my whole life, to be honest, but it's just hair. It will grow back. I need something different right now."91Please respect copyright.PENANAAbsV0v0QCS
"Bad break up?"91Please respect copyright.PENANAUFksKL3TGy
"More serious than that."91Please respect copyright.PENANAcf9ImIk4qQ
"Understood." With nothing but a sympathetic tissue, she puts me under the wash, combs, and surveys again. "So what were you thinking?"91Please respect copyright.PENANAy1yJLcn6xb
I shrug.
She turns the chair so that she can stare me straight in the eyes. "Babygirl, you understand once I do this, you can't go back?"91Please respect copyright.PENANAT9Lsa8m9hI
"Yes ma'am, I know." I sit up taller. "I'm sure."
Grabbing a magazine, she turns to the picture of a curly, v-shaped bob that comes to the model's shoulders.
"You won't even need rollers."
"That looks great. Thank you."
As she positions my hair, pins it, and combs it again, she tentatively grabs the scissors.
"Girl, I can't believe you are cutting this." she jokes good-naturedly. "Can I have it? What are you mixed with?"
"3/4 Ethiopian, 1/4 Bengali. My name is Madhuri."
"Madhuri, I wish, I wish."
We both laugh.
"I like yours as well. I could never manage braids that stay in my natural hair."91Please respect copyright.PENANA6jAxSFvTEK
"Thank you. I'm trying this new natural thing." She starts cutting at the back. "You are going to look good."91Please respect copyright.PENANA1Xn5rNX0dh
We are quiet as she concentrates, and when she's done, she reveals the mirror.
Taking one look at the short curls that frame my face, I burst into tears.
"Uh...you don't like it?"
"No, no, I love it. Just have to get used to it," I assure her. "Thank you."
She breathes and offers me a tissue. "Madhuri, don't scare me like that. I've NEVER had an angry customer."
"Well, you now have another regular customer," I reply as I pay her.
"Thanks, Babygirl. I hope you feel better?"
"I will. This helps alot."
As I return home, I'm surprised to find Emaye in the spotless kitchen working on her laptop with Nandita at the table doing her homework. I guess Ms. Brenda went to work. Scrappy announces my arrival.
"Madhuri, what are you---" Emaye snatches off her glasses while my sister sits with mouth agape.
"Emaye, I---"
Stupid tears cut me off again.
"Oh, Mou, it will grow back."91Please respect copyright.PENANAUoQ5h25KwG
"I'm so angry, I...." I stare up at her with desperation. "Do you think Bapi would hate it?"
"With every fiber of his being," she assures with a laugh, fixing the places where her embrace ruffled my hair.
"Good."
We both laugh.
Nandita bounces over to study the new layers of curls in the back that come mid-neck and tickle my skin. "I love it. Makes you look older, Mou."
"Yes, totally doctor material." Emaye kisses my forehead. "I know that you are angry with your father, but whether he would approve or not, keep being who you are. Don't get reckless trying to be rebellious. Keep going to school, keep being a lady, and keep chasing your dreams. Both of you. Make me proud, as always."
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