Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
I miss that smile. I miss seeing the corner of her lips crinkle or her eyes widening with happiness. Now when she does smile at Amelie or me or Mack when she’s on the phone with him, it’s short lived. This tour she signed up for, the place she wants to live, is draining the life out of her and she’s too stubborn to recognize it. If I bring it up, I’m harping. Sometimes, that’s all I do—harp. I can’t help it.
As soon as I walk into the house, I inhale cinnamon, garlic, and turmeric and sigh. One of the best things about Talisa being Amelie’s caretaker is the magnificent food she makes for dinner. I go into the kitchen, set my bag on the chair, and make my way over to the stove to breathe in the Cape Malay curry. It’s one of my favorite dishes. Talisa likes to spoil me.
“Wash,” she says as she shoos me away from the stew. I love having her around, she keeps our house in order and us well fed. Honestly, I’d like for her to come and live with Mack and me in Beaumont when I go back, but I need her to stay with Amelie.
I do as she says and then stop in Amelie’s room to check on her. I find her at her desk. It’s a small wooden desk Talisa found on the side of the road. She repaired it, painted it white, and added flowers for decorations. Amelie’s head is down, and her shoulders are shaking.
“Amelie, what’s wrong?” I step in and place my hand on her shoulder. “Why are you crying?”
“Because I missed Rachael and Ebony’s birthday parties and now, they don’t want to be my friends.” The last part comes out in a sob and my heart breaks for her. She hasn’t had the easiest time making friends at her school and really only plays with Jacoba’s daughter, Hanneli. But even Hanneli has her long-time friends who aren’t that interested in Amelie. It makes sense though, most of the Doctors Without Borders families are in a place for six months to a year, so why get attached.
I sit on the edge of her bed and run my fingers over the fringe on the bedspread Talisa gave Amelie. It’s different shades of reds, oranges, and pinks, and reminds me of the sunset. “Do you want to talk about it?”
She shakes her head and turns to face me, hair covering her face. Tears trickle down her cheeks and she wipes them roughly. “I want you to tell their parents that they have to be friends with me.”
I shake my head slowly. “Friendships don’t work that way, Amelie. They don’t have to be friends with you if they don’t want to. I’m sure if you were in Beaumont, things would be different, but you’re not there and they’re ten years old.”
“They’re eleven,” she says.
Semantics.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not telling their parents they have to be friends with you.”
“You’re so mean.”
“I’m fully aware,” I tell her, which only angers her more. Man, I love the little girl attitude. “Is there anything else bothering you?”
She nods and does another swipe across her face. “I’m sad.”
“I can see that. Would a hug make things better?”
Amelie shakes her head. “I miss Mack.”
“Me too, sweetie. So much.”
“Make him come here.”
“I can’t do that. Mack’s at an important stage in high school. If he moved here, it would ruin his chances of going to college.”
“He doesn’t need to go to college. He can sell stuff on the corner like the other kids.”
There’s a lot to be said about living in a small-town, especially one that prides itself on taking care of their neighbors. Beaumont doesn’t have an issue with homeless people since the town pooled its resources and bought the hotel on the outskirts of town. If someone needs a place to stay, there is always room, and someone always has odd jobs available if they need money. Leave Beaumont and it’s a different story, much like every other town or city’s story. There aren’t enough jobs, housing is outrageously overpriced, and the cost of living is through the roof. Our economy is slowly forcing people onto the streets. What Amelie sees are people on the streets, selling their goods in hopes of putting a meal on their table at night.
“Mack needs to finish high school and go to college. The same will be said for you.”
Amelie groans. “I hate school.” She comes over and falls into me. I have no choice but to catch her before she dramatically slides to the ground. I pick her up and sit her on my knee.
“What else is going on?”
“You’ll be mad.”
“I doubt it.”
“I thought it would be fun to live here but I miss my old room and my friends, but I like Hanneli and I really love Talisa. And Mommy is here.”