The court papers said that when the detectives showed up at the house to tell Aunt Trang about her husband’s murder, she answered the door with a black eye. They also noted the deep bruises around her wrists. Frank was quoted in the investigation report as saying, “I didn’t do it but I’m not sorry to see him gone.” For the time being, he was being held at the Main Jail Complex in downtown San Jose until he was sentenced. Aunt Trang kept calling Elle’s mom to cry and say over and over, “It’s my fault.” Elle’s mom never spoke about it, no matter how much Elle would beg her. In her mom’s point of view, it was a disgrace to the family and a tragedy too awful to speak of. Talking about it meant admitting the truth not just about Frank but Uncle Lam too. What had he done to drive his son to this edge?

Tonight, Aunt Kim was out gambling again. In bed, Elle’s stomach grumbled and Sophia turned to say, “What was that?” They had only had two bowls of cereal each for dinner. Elle kept secret these small details from her own mother who surely wouldn’t approve and wouldn’t let her stay the night if she knew.

It was one of those uncommonly warm spring nights in San Francisco. Sophia said, “It’s so hot, I’ll take off my shirt if you do.” She wanted to show off her chi-chis every chance she got. Then she said, “What about our bottoms too?”

The window was wide open and in the far distance they could hear the steel wheels of the J Church grinding against the tracks. Sophia said, “That guy with the snake looked like he might have had a huge snake in his jeans too, don’t you think?” She widened her eyes big when she said this and the whites of them glowed in the dark.

Elle said, “What do you know about that?” She whacked Sophia over the head with a pillow. Elle was older. If there was going to be an expert on that matter, she was supposed to be the one. And yet, they both knew that Sophia was more experienced. She had already let three guys go to second base with her. Two of them had grabbed for Sophia’s breasts before they even kissed her.

Sophia threw the pillow back and sat up against the rattan headboard. She sighed, “I’m sorry, but I’m serious, he had on such tight jeans.”

Even in the dark, Elle could make out that Sophia’s breasts were so full, the bottom part rested on her upper ribs. Her nipples stood out erectwhen a cold chill suddenly pushed through the window.