Cricket cut her eyes to him. “I painted my bedroom walls with pictures of aliens and flowers and pizza. It’s much better now, but my mom didn’t think so. She BURST INTO HYSTERICS.”

Jaime swallowed hard. His own mother had died when he was very young, and he would give anything to have her here, bursting into hysterics over something he’d done. “Some moms do that, I guess.”

“Hmmph,” said Cricket. “And I don’t like all the wiggle worms.”

“The what?”

“The wiggle worms. Haven’t you seen them?”

Jaime didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. “No. But I’m glad to see you.”

Now she narrowed her eyes, peering at him with suspicion.

“I really am.”

Her face relaxed a little. “I’m glad I’m not living with Cranky Cousin Gordon in Bayonne, New Jersey, anymore. His whole house smells like nachos. He doesn’t even eat nachos. That doesn’t make sense and I don’t like NONSENSICAL things.”

There was a sharp ding! and the elevator doors opened. Cricket pedaled out into the hallway. Before reaching the end of the hallway, she turned. In a quiet voice she added, “I’m glad to see your famous hair.” Then she disappeared around the corner.

Jaime smiled to himself as he unlocked the door of the new apartment, heartened to find someone familiar in the building, even if it was an extremely cranky six-year-old who didn’t enjoy being nice to people unless she was guilted into it, and who really should have been getting ready for bed. As soon as he opened the door, the scent of pork, onions, and peppers filled his nose. A pile of fried plantains sat on a plate next to the stove. His stomach grumbled loudly in response.

“Ah, there’s my hungry boy, just in time,” said Mima. “I think your belly has a sixth sense.” She was still wearing her white coveralls that said THE HANDY WOMAN on the back.

“Busy day?” said Jaime, as Mima spooned healthy portions of pork and vegetables onto a plate and set the plate on the counter for him.

“There are a lot of bungling maintenance men in this tiny little city. How these bungling men still have jobs, I don’t know. People like to give bungling men a lot of chances. My parents would tell me that these men have families, they have to have work! As if women don’t have families.”