“You two wonders!” She yelled that out loud, and her mouth was a huge smile. “Oh, oh, my loves, my loves!” She got on one knee and squeezed us both up in a hug. Other ladies asked who we were, and she told them our names. They patted our heads and cheeks and told Gloria we were adorable. She was lucky. “Blessed,” she said. “So, so blessed.” I saw Rowan pull his hands inside the sleeves of his sweater. I think he was hiding his spots.

She wasn’t finished her work, so she let us sit at the back counter. She even bought us deep-fried corn dogs. Rowan squirted drops of mustard from a yellow bottle but I ate mine with nothing on it. They tasted so good. Rowan grabbed the stick because I was chewing on it. He thought I was going to eat it but I was only pretending.

When she was done her work, Telly came and picked us all up. Gloria never said nothing on the ride home. Telly played his music. He hit all the potholes and me and Rowan popped off our seats. We laughed when our heads bumped the roof. Wind came in the open windows and I could smell smoke and my eyes itched. Even though it was dark I could see the empty trees waving their branches.

The truck turned down our circle, and Gloria pointed her finger at us. “Straight to your rooms, you two. I’ve had more than enough rigmarole for one night.” Maybe she was angry at Telly for leaving us at school. Or maybe she was so happy with our surprise she just got tired. It didn’t matter. I never remembered how it ended. I only thought about her smile and what she said when all the other workers at Stafford’s were looking at me and Rowan. “I’m blessed,” she said. “I’m so, so blessed.” We were her wonders. We were her loves.

ROWAN

I didn’t fight anymore. I slid down through the water. Dropping and dropping. Stringy weeds brushed my arms and legs. Then a hard fist punched my side. Clawing against my spine. My T-shirt hitched. Caught on something. Tugging. I twisted in the water.

It was Girl. Oh, Girl. I reached through the water, felt her hind legs, tail, and I held on. Her body moving, thrusting force pulling me up and up and I kicked and kicked until I pierced the surface. Broke through.