Ysrael sighed. “It’s not a library night.”
“Right.”
“Isn’t there anything else you have to do?”
“I guess. I have to think about it.” Ysrael didn’t understand how hard it was to get out of the house. How Uhmma always had a million questions about where I would be, who was going with me. Each lie had to be crafted with care. I busied myself to avoid his gaze. I put the rest of the receipts back in the envelope and placed it under the counter.
“When do you get to do what you want?” he asked quietly, looking away from me.
I reached out, quickly touching Ysrael’s hand. “Please, Ysrael—”
Uhmma’s voice called from the back, “Mina-ya.” Her footsteps were approaching.
I rushed away from Ysrael and tried to meet Uhmma before she saw us together.
Uhmma appeared from behind the clothes and stopped in the middle of the aisle, her eyes squinting at Ysrael, who was still leaning against the front counter.
I stepped into her line of vision. “Hi, Uhmma,” I said.
She leaned to one side to see past me. Mina, she said, what is he doing up front?
I raised one hand and gestured as though it was the most natural thing in the world. I had to go to the bathroom and I asked Ysrael to watch the front for one second.
Uhmma frowned. She said, Where is your father and Suna? Are they in the office?
I nodded. Apa is too tired to walk all the way from the back to the front for just one minute. And Suna . . . I let my voice trail away, letting Uhmma come to her own judgment.
She sighed, Hurry up. I will watch the front until you return.
I walked back to the bathroom. I could hear Uhmma’s voice growling at Ysrael, “You go back to work. Not for you here.”
I hated her.
When I returned from the bathroom, Uhmma was checking over the receipts in the manila envelope. “Okay, Uhmma,” I said quickly, hoping she would leave me alone.
Uhmma slid the receipts back into the envelope and placed it under the counter.
Mina, she said, we must get you ready for school.
What do you mean? I asked.
She smiled and said, It is the end of August. Do you not want to get some new clothes? She studied my face. You are acting strangely. Most years, it is you who must remind me to go clothes shopping for the fall.
I nodded. I couldn’t believe summer was almost over. For once, I had absolutely no interest in thinking about what I would be wearing for school. But if I protested, Uhmma would definitely suspect something was wrong.
Uhmma opened the cash register and took out a wad of twenties. She said, Go get your sister. I will meet you at the car after I tell your father.
I scanned the back for Ysrael as I made my way to the rear entrance of the store. He was missing from his usual place at the presses. There was no way to meet him tonight. I would have to explain everything tomorrow night, at the library. If he was there.
• • •
Uhmma drove cautiously into the parking lot of the mall. Suna sat in the backseat. She leaned forward suddenly and pointed to a spot in the distance.
“There’s one,” she called out excitedly.
Uhmma drove up to it. There was a motorcycle parked there. It had been hidden from view by the truck.
Uhmma muttered, I should have known.
Suna was silent.
Uhmma turned to me. Check on your side and I will check on mine. She slowly cruised up and down the aisles, looking for a space.
“Right there, Uhmma,” I said, pointing to a woman who was just approaching her car. She held several bags in one hand and a baby in the other. Uhmma stopped the car and turned on her blinker. She sat back in her seat and turned to me.
It has been a while, Uhmma said. I have not had a chance to get you some nice clothes.
I shrugged. “It’s okay.”
Suna was still silent in back. She never seemed to care that most of her clothes were hand-me-downs. Maybe it would have been different if Suna made a big deal about it like most girls her age. But Suna never seemed to care what she wore or what she looked like. She only worried if her hearing aid showed.
We pulled into the parking space and got out of the car. As we walked toward the entrance of the mall, Uhmma put her hand around my waist, pulling me close. I realized with a start that I had somehow grown taller than Uhmma. It was only by an inch, but for a second, it was as though the world had tipped upside down.
Uhmma directed us when we got inside.
Suna. Uhmma pointed. We will meet you in the children’s section.
Suna nodded and headed off slowly in that direction. Suna was still too small to fit into the teen sizes. I thought for a second to go with her, make Uhmma spend time looking at Suna’s clothes instead of just rushing through at the last minute, but then the entire process would take longer than I could stand. I followed Uhmma to the teen section.
Uhmma held up a dress. What about this one?
I barely looked up before shaking my head no. Uhmma always liked the fancy things. I rifled through piles of shirts, looking for my size.
Uhmma and I walked over to the dressing rooms with a pile of clothes in both of our arms. I wanted it all to be over. Why was it that I always forgot how painful it was to shop with Uhmma? And then I would be reminded as she battled over what looked good. My head ached from having to fend off all of Uhmma’s choices without getting her mad. The saleslady led us to the back and unlocked a door. Uhmma stepped inside with me.
Here, Uhmma said and handed me a dress that I had been too tired to fight off. I kicked off
