Page 73 - The Mending Season

dreading. I had heard girls ask each other this so many times that I was surprised KB had never asked me - or that Sumaya and Brittany had not asked me sooner.I cleared my throat and thought quickly. “W ell... my mom designs clothes,”I said. She did make my dress, I reasoned in my mind.“Oh, cool! That explains your fancy dress!” Sumaya said, her face lighting up. “Could she make something for me?”I shrugged. “Sure,”I told her.“What about your dad?” Brittany asked. This was an even harder one. I took a bite ofpizza and chewed while I thought of an answer.“Mmm ... He sells the clothes my mom designs,” I told them, speaking with care and making sure I pronounced each word right.“Cool, like a businessman. Like my dad,” KB said. It was the first time in that part ofthe conversation that she was showing interest. I saw in her eyes that she had new respect for me.“So why don’t they move?” she asked me. I had never seen her look this interested in anything I said.“And why didn’t they send you to the school as soon as it opened?” Sumaya inquired. I thought that she was not com­ pletely convinced that I was telling the truth.“Ummm ... They’re still looking for a place,” I lied. The aunts would have been angry but my father would have laughed if he had been there.“Cool. Where?” KB asked.I shrugged nonchalantly. “Somewhere in town. I don’t know,”I said.Our waitress came to collect our plates. I sighed. KB announced that she had to pee and Sumaya followed her. The waitress came back with the bill while they were gone. She looked at me curiously and asked in Setswana, “She’s your friend?” She meant Brittany.73