Is it true all the men over there have to join the military and learn martial arts and shit?

Yeah.

I heard in the Mossad they learn jujitsu by doing flips on concrete. You know anything about that?

Ben hesitates but finally tells my brother he has not heard of that. Whenever he looks up at my brother, the sun captures his face and makes him squint, but his eyes remain riveted on Tomas. I’ve fallen back, and have to take a couple steps forward to try and read my brother’s expression and figure out what he is up to.

As we walk onto the longer grass Tomas senses some hesitation in me because he gives me a look—as if to say See this—and then turns to Ben, who follows close behind him.

Listen. Sorry about the way our mom’s so late with the money, he says.

That’s okay.

Yeah, but it must be really annoying.

Ben shrugs, walking with his head down.

Sometimes she can be a real space cadet, Tomas says.

Again, Ben does not say anything.

Like the way she hit your mother’s car. I mean they were only going a couple miles an hour. Tomas shakes his head. You know how clueless old oriental ladies like her can get.

Yeah, Ben says, chuckling, happy to be included in a conversation with him.

And the way she talks. Tomas shakes his head even more now. You ever talked to her, Ben?

I know what you mean, he says eagerly.

We walk in silence.

My brother looks at me now to make sure I’ve been listening. The hair on the back of my neck has pricked like needles, and the air is motionless. We get to the car.

Hey, Ben, I’m gonna look in the front seat, Tomas says. Can you take a look in back?