“A couple of months ago. I awoke one morning and didn’t remember.”

“When you see pictures of her, do you remember?”

“Nope. I mean, I know it’s her, but I don’t remember her.”

“You can’t remember anything, not one tiny little thing?”

I shake my head.

“Have you gone through your mother’s things yet?”

“My mother’s things?”

“Her clothes, jewelry, possessions. Did somebody already box them up?”

“No.” I don’t tell him that Tata practically turned his bedroom into a shrine to my mother.

“Maybe you should try that. See if it helps. We’ll talk next week. Oh, Isabel, I almost forgot.”

“What?”

“Frank sends you a message. He says when you visit him next week, bring the ukulele.”

Thief

Thief

It’s Sunday night and I still haven’t gotten up enough nerve to ask Tata for the ukulele. He keeps it on the dresser next to their wedding picture and the tiara.

I decide to take it without permission. Tata might say no and I won’t visit Frank without it.

When Auntie Bernadette honks the horn twice for Olivia and me, I grab the ukulele case and dash out the door.

No Punishment

No Punishment

“Did you search through your mother’s things?” Ed asks.

I think about lying because I don’t want anything to keep me away from my visit with Frank. Instead I stare at the ukulele case and shake my head.

Ed laces his fingers together and taps his knuckles, looking at me for a long moment. He stretches out on the couch, flat on his back, and stares at the ceiling.

“Isabel, what do you do with your day?”

“I go to school.”

“After school. Do you have any hobbies?”

“I watch the store.”

“Until you go to bed?”

“Until supper.”

“Do you have to cook supper every night?”

“Auntie makes it most nights. She cooks it at her house and brings it to us. Or sometimes she fixes dinner at our home.”

“After supper, what do you do?”

“I wash dishes, then I sometimes watch TV or read.”

“Reading is good. Do you have any other special hobbies? Like sports?”

“I’m not good at sports. Except maybe …”

“Maybe what?”

“Well, I like to dive, but I don’t know if I’m good at it.”

“Diving. Hmmm … scuba diving?”

“No, diving off diving boards.” Suddenly it sounds kind of stupid and I don’t even know why I said it.

“Are there diving teams here that you can join?” Ed asks.

“Oh, I don’t know. The university has a team, but that’s for college students. Do I get to see Frank today?”

“Yes, of course. I told you that you would. Did you think I’d change my mind?”

“I guess because … I didn’t look at my mother’s things.”