Sam dropped his head.
“Sam?”
“What?” he snapped.
“Don’t worry about it.” She put a hand on his forearm. “I’ve had my feelings hurt enough to last me a life time. I’m not signing up for any more by going out with someone. That’s the last thing I need.”
Sam stared at her hand on his arm. It was small and pale next to his skin.
“Don’t worry about it.” Mina gave his arm a final squeeze. “If you didn’t want to talk to me about Naomi, what did you want to talk about? Is it someone else?”
Sam still stared at the spot where her hand had been. He shook his head and dragged his eyes up to meet her gaze. “I wanted to talk to you about coming to the game on Friday.”
“That’s it? Are you okay?”
He nodded, his eyes drawn to a loose strand of hair brushing her collarbone.
She pushed the hair back as if it was a pesky bug. “I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about it.” Sam didn’t answer. “Ahh, hello. Earth to Sam.”
“Sorry. Do you need a ride? I can ask Ina or—” He turned his attention back to her face. “Ori got his license this summer, if you dare ride with him.”
No way. Ma would flip out if she saw her getting out of a car with two boys. Mina wasn’t sure how she’d get home. She lived about four miles from school, but she could walk if the weather was nice. She’d done it in the past, once or twice with Emma in tow when they’d missed the bus, and there’d been no one to take them to school.
“I’m sure Ina won’t mind, but I’ll double check to make sure.”
“Okay. But if someone asks me to babysit that night, I’ll have to do it.” I need the money.
“Okay, but if you can, that’d be great.”
“Sure. No problem. I’d better get going…” Mina turned away. “My dad must be home by now, and my mother won’t like it if I’m late for dinner.”
They walked back up the hill. Ori sat on the picnic table.
“Hi, Ori.” Mina moved on.
Nodding to Mina, he looked at Sam. “You ready?”
“Talk to you later,” she called over her shoulder.
“You know you owe me for this, punk?” Ori said with a grin.
Sam didn’t respond. He watched Mina walk up the hill.
“What is it between you and this Wasicu?”
“Nothing really, but I like her. A lot.”
“You liked Jessie a lot too, remember?”
Sam shrugged. “Yeah. I remember. Friggin’ liar. Telling me she was pregnant when she wasn’t. Mina’s different. She says she doesn’t want a boyfriend.”
“Let it go then, man. You got chicks fallin’ all over you. Pick one, get some rubbers and get on with it.”
“I have picked one.” Sam looked back at the road, but Mina had disappeared over the crest of the hill.
The following Friday morning dawned sunny and warm, and though Mina could hardly believe it, no one had called her to babysit. She tried on several new shirts and discarded one after another. They all drew attention to her bust. She settled on a loose black pullover. Checking her image in the tiny bathroom mirror, Mina discovered if she rolled her shoulders forward a little, her chest didn’t seem so prominent.
“Mina, are you ready? Ma says the bus is going to be here any minute,” Emma called down the hall.
She’d taken too long to get dressed. I haven’t even fixed my hair. Yanking a sweatshirt over her head, Mina twisted a hair tie around her hair, securing it at the nape of her neck.
“You’re not going out with your hair looking like that?” Ma asked in a disapproving tone. “What will people think?”
Her mother hadn’t talked to her in weeks, and this was all she had to say? Gee, I don’t know. Maybe, how ‘bout there goes that girl whose mother wears dirty house dresses and bedroom slippers to the grocery store? Or rides to the town dump with her husband and brings home more junk than they took? Did she disapprove of things Richard did too? Is that why he left? Mina shook her head as if this would empty those thoughts. “I’ll fix it on the bus.” She grabbed her lunch. “Oh, I almost forgot. It’s the first home game for the soccer team. I don’t have to babysit tonight, so I’m going to stay and watch. Mrs. Miller said she would give me a ride home.”
“Can I come too?” Emma asked.
“Ask Ma.”
Her mother sat at the kitchen table as if they were having this conversation in another room.
“Ma, can I go? I’ll be good. I promise. I won’t get my clothes dirty or anything.”
Using the table to push her bulk up from the chair, Ma shrugged. “I’m making your favorite tonight, spaghetti, so if you’re late, we’re not going to wait supper.” With that, she went out the back door. Any time she wasn’t cooking or watching television, she was either in the vegetable garden or one of her flower beds. If only she loved us as much as she did her plants.
Mina felt like she’d just arrived at school and the day was over. She could tell Sam was excited about the game, even though he kept saying he wouldn’t get any playing time. Maybe that was what seemed different about him these last couple of weeks. He’d been eating lunch with her and Winona more, but then again, so was Tom Evans. Even though Mina could tell Winona liked Tom, she hadn’t said anything about it yet. Sam on the other hand, barely acknowledged him, and Mina wondered why he didn’t eat lunch with his brothers, like he usually did.
“Do you like Tom?” Winona asked in a quiet voice, as they walked to the elementary school to pick up their sisters.
“Tom Evans? Sure,” Mina answered honestly. Winona’s shoulders slumped a little. “I think he’s a nice guy.” Winona studied the ground as they walked. “Do you like Tom?”
“Yes.” Winona hesitated. “He’s nice and funny too. He has pretty green eyes, and I love his voice,” she said in a rush, and then stopped, a blush spreading under the dark skin of her cheeks.
“Winona Two Bears Miller,” Mina exclaimed. All the Miller kids had Lilith’s maiden name as a middle name. “What’re we going to do about it?”
“Nothing.” Winona kept her eyes averted. “Besides, I think he likes you. He’s always talking to you.”
“I’ve told you my views on boyfriends, remember? It’s still thanks, but no thanks. Besides, he only talks to me because you never say anything, and your brother isn’t much better. I think sometimes Sam tries to aggravate Tom on purpose. Is he on the outs with Joe and Ori?”
“What do you mean?”
“Sam never used to sit with us for lunch. Now he never sits with them.”
“I don’t know,” was all Winona would say. “Boy, it’s hot today. How can you wear that heavy black sweatshirt?”
Mina shrugged, eyeing Winona’s light blue t-shirt with envy. “It’s a good cover up, so people don’t notice as much.”
“Notice what?”
Mina rolled her eyes, before glancing down at her own chest.
“Ohh.” Winona was quiet for a few minutes as they walked. “Who noticed?”
Mina’s face flushed. “It’s doesn’t matter. It’s not important.”
“Who?”
She’s not going to let this go. I should have kept my mouth shut. “Robbie Fields, and a couple of other boys in the hall last week.”
“Who else? What happened?” Winona demanded in a rush; she didn’t like Robbie either.
“I was going to French class, and they were in the hallway, whispering and laughing. I didn’t even look at them; I just wanted to get to class. I was almost by them and…” Mina hesitated. “I heard Robbie say something about jugs and free feels.” Mina’s face burned as she relived the scene. “One of the boys shoved the other one into me, and instead of backing up, he—well, he grabbed a handful.” Mina tried to make a joke of it, but her eyes teared up when she said it out loud. She scrubbed at them. “It was awful, and gross, and dirty all at the same time. I didn’t want to go to class. In fact, I didn’t even want to come back to school
and face them. But I did.” She sighed. “Now I try to make sure I’m always with other kids. Most of the time it’s Sam, but he doesn’t have French class with me.”
“Did you tell anyone?”
Mina shook her head. “Who am I supposed to tell? One of the teachers? The boys might get called into the office, and that’d make it worse; other kids would find out.”
“What about your parents? Can’t you tell them?”
Mina shook her head again. “It wouldn’t do any good. My mother would tell me it’s my own fault, for the way I’m dressed.” They didn’t talk much anyway, but a boy groping her at school was definitely not on the agenda. “My plan is to stay out of their way and try to wear clothes that don’t draw attention.”
It was Winona’s turn to shake her head. “Can I tell you that’s not much of a plan? That’s like letting them control you. Why should they dictate how you dress?”
Mina could hear anger in Winona’s voice, a rare thing.
“I think you should tell somebody. If you let them get away with it, they’re going to keep doing it. I know if you told Sam, he’d walk you to class.”
“No way am I telling him what happened.”
“I think you should tell him. All I know is, I’m still waiting in that department.” Winona stared down at her flat chest under the t-shirt.
“If I could give it to you, I would.”
“I know a few other girls who’d probably take you up on your offer too. Blair Whitman, for one.”
“What?”
Winona nodded. “She’s so jealous of your figure; I think she could spit nails.”
“Yeah, right.” Blair Whitman was everything Mina was not…tall, thin, blonde, and popular. “What makes you think that?” she couldn’t resist asking.
“I can tell. You know how she’s always coming around me, trying to be all friendly, when I know she could give a rat’s butt about me…she’s trying to get to Sam. I may be quiet, but I ain’t stupid. On one of her visits to my locker, she mentioned how you’d filled out over the summer, in a conversational tone, of course. She then hinted your increase was due to wearing a super padded bra.”
Mina couldn’t believe her ears. She’d seen Blair undress for gym class. She often strutted around the locker room in her underclothes, and she’d been the one wearing a padded bra for years.
Arriving back at the soccer field, Emma and Sarah streaked ahead when they caught sight of Joe and Ori. Emma made a beeline for Ori, and Mina was once again astounded by their relationship. Emma seemed afraid of just about everybody, and Ori hated just about everybody, but those two gravitated toward each other.
Sam’s parents weren’t there yet, but Mina knew they would be. The whole tribe, as Sam liked to call his family, would be. As usual, Joe laughed and joked, and Mina wasn’t surprised to see three girls chatting with him. Nor was she surprised Ori had his arms crossed, giving Joe and his harem a look of disgust. Ori greeted Mina with his customary nod, but not Joe. Coming over, Joe gave her a big hug. He’s a lot like Lilith. She tried not to tense up. Joe left his arm draped over her shoulders, gave her a grin and a wink, and swung her around toward the field. “Hey, Sam.” He waited for Sam’s attention. “Go get ‘em, little brother,” he called out toward the bench, giving her another squeeze in the process.
Sam’s eyes narrowed when he caught sight of them. Mina slipped out from under Joe’s arm. Why’s he always doing that? She didn’t feel Joe was being fresh or anything. It was just weird.
Jack and Lilith Miller arrived loaded down with lawn chairs and a blanket for the girls to sit on. Mina spread it out while Winona dug around in the bag her father had carried to the field, producing snacks. The Millers settled into their chairs after chatting with several other parents, and Mina wasn’t surprised to see Em half-sitting in Lilith’s lap, a thin arm looped around the woman’s neck, her face animated as she carried on a conversation. Their mother told Em she was too heavy the one time she’d tried to climb on her lap at home. Yeah, wow. I bet she weighs fifty pounds, tops. Lilith listened, unconsciously smoothing the little girl’s flyaway hair back off her face. Em leaned into the woman’s touch. Nibbling on a tortilla chip, Mina wished, for about the millionth time, they belonged to this family.
“Hey, Emma, look what I found.” Winona held up a clear plastic bag.
“Grapes?” Emma grinned, dropping down on the blanket. “My favorite. Thank you, Mrs. Miller. Ma doesn’t buy these, too expensive.” She popped one in her mouth, squinting against the late afternoon sun. “You guys must be rich.”
Mina didn’t miss the subtle look that passed between Jack and Lilith. Em didn’t get it yet, other families had things like grapes, went to restaurants and movies, and played the radio. But Mina did. College would get her out of here, to a better life like other people.
Sarah and Emma wandered off to play, leaving the two older girls on the blanket discussing a book Winona had to read this year for English and Mina had read last year.
“Hi, Winona. Mr. and Mrs. Miller. How are you?”
Blair. Mina didn’t miss the fact that Blair didn’t acknowledge her, and neither did anyone else. Subtlety was not her strong suit. Mina kept her back to the other girl, pretending to study the field. She could tell by the shadows cast on the ground nearby several other kids were with Blair.
“Do you mind if we sit with you?” Blair asked, already starting to drop to the blanket without waiting for an answer as the whistle blew marking the start of the game. Before anyone else could sit down, Emma and Sarah plopped down on the blanket in a heap.
“Sorry,” Winona said. “I guess there’s not room.”
“That’s okay, maybe next time,” Blair said, “When it’s not so crowded.”
Mina could feel the other girl’s eyes on her back, but didn’t move. Blair and her group went off to sit on the metal bleachers, and still Mina didn’t move. “We can move so they can sit here.”
“I don’t think so,” Winona said. “Why do you do that anyway?”
“Do what?”
“Whenever someone comes around, you move aside, like you’re not good enough. I know I’m shy too, but I don’t let anyone like her harass me.”
Mina kept her eyes on the field. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do. She’s been tormenting you for years.”
Mina shrugged. What am I supposed to do? Fight with the girl? That didn’t exactly qualify as going under the radar.
“How about last year when someone took your sneakers and left them on the teacher’s desk in home room?”
Mina’s face colored, but she kept her eyes locked on the tree line at the other side of the field.
“The teacher wanted to know who they belonged to, and Blair said obviously someone who can’t afford Nike. Sam told me.”
“Did he also tell you he walked to the front of the room and claimed them as his, even though they had pink stripes?” Mina turned to look at her friend, a grin on her face at the memory.
“Nope. But that sounds like something Sam would do. He doesn’t care.”
“I know. I’m lucky he’s my friend.” Mina located him on the bench, his back to her, listening to the coach. As if that black braid would be hard to spot. “Sometimes I find it hard to believe.”
“Why?”
“Why? Look at him. I mean, I know he’s your brother, but he’s kind, fun, and smart. Not to mention hot. And in case you haven’t noticed, most of the female population in school wants to go out with him.”
“Trust me, I know. They’ve all let me know in one way or another.” Winona rolled her eyes. “He’s okay, I guess, as far as brothers go, but try living with him. A better question would be—why can’t you believe he’s your friend?”
“I don’t know,” Mina answered. This was a frustrating and uncomfortable topic. “I just think he could do better, that’s all.”
“He could do better? Are you listening to yourself?”
Win
ona’s way too old for her years sometimes.
“Can I have some more grapes?” Emma interrupted from the front of the blanket.
“Sure.” Winona handed her the bag.
“Not too many,” Mina warned. “Remember, Ma is making spaghetti tonight.”
The ref blew his whistle, and the teams headed out onto the field, Sam with them. That brought whoops from Sam’s brothers and clapping from his father.
“What?” Mina asked. “Is it because he’s getting to play?”
“Yeah, that too, but he’s a starter.”
“Oh,” was all Mina said. She’d seen a game or two, but she’d have to do some research on this game so she understood better. As the game went on, she was amazed at the number of times the players had to run up and down the long field. It was no wonder Sam caught up with her so easily by the river.
He was a streak in his royal blue and white uniform. Mina could barely muster the mile run they had to do every year in gym. But not only could Sam run—he did it while guiding a soccer ball down the field with only his feet. She was mesmerized, forgetting not to stare. Not only did she stare, after a while she found herself yelling encouragement to most of the players. Not all, but most. At one point Sam broke away, and with a well-placed kick scored the first goal of the game. Everyone went wild. Ori and Joe whooped again, and Mina could see Sam doing the same thing as he ran back down the field, his arms raised, fists clenched. She was no exception, jumping up and down and hugging Winona. Sarah and Emma, who’d been playing on the blanket, got up and hopped around too, mainly because their sisters were.
Mina asked Winona several questions about the play on the field, and Winona answered the best she could. Sam made an assist, resulting in another goal before the air horn blew, signifying the end of the first half.
Sam grabbed a towel and a water bottle and dropped down on the bench as the coach gave the team instructions for the next half. While listening, he scrubbed the sweat from his face with the small towel. Several teammates slapped him on the back and Sam grinned. Glancing their way, he smiled when his dad gave him the thumbs up sign, and outright laughed when Emma and Sarah imitated it. His gaze touched Mina’s face, and he smiled and winked. She smiled back, experiencing the same feeling in the pit of her stomach as she had the day he’d braided her hair. It felt good and strange, all at the same time.
My Mother Grows Wallflowers Page 9
