A Moment Comes by Jennifer Bradbury

Author:Jennifer Bradbury
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 2013-06-24T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

* * *

MARGARET

I stand in the shadow of the doorway, watching Anu serve Mummy and Daddy the drinks. She seems calmer now than when I found her with Tariq. But she won’t look up at my parents, only bowing humbly, taking the glasses back from them, waiting there, staring at the the tray. My parents don’t seem to notice her as they walk the long way through the garden to the little patio off the downstairs parlor, disappearing inside, Father remarking how nice it feels to stretch his legs after all those hours in the car.

But Anu remains glued to the spot, fixated on those cups on the tray. She is breathing too quickly, swallowing hard, and she stays that way until the old housekeeper appears, chattering at her in Punjabi, and shoos her back into the kitchen.

“Anu?” I call out. My voice sounds sharp, sharper than I mean it to.

Her head jerks up, eyes wide, like she’s just woken up from a bad dream.

“Are you all right?” I ask. I’m not sure if I’m jealous or annoyed or worried or what for her now.

It’s terrible, this feeling. Of liking Anu but at the same time sort of resenting her. It makes me feel small and mean inside, but I can’t help it. I can’t stop myself from looking for flaws or vanity or meanness, like what’s inside me, though I’ve never seen it. I can’t help it though.

But I know others simply can’t help watching her, period.

Then again, it’s not like I caught her snogging Tariq in the kitchen or anything.

But then I think of the way he was looking at her.

A way he’s never looked at me.

Ever.

Suddenly I feel like a trussed up cow in the sari, almost as embarrassed by it as Mummy was. What could I have been thinking? He didn’t even seem to notice. What a yuck I am.

Anu’s standing beside me now, staring at her feet, holding out the tray with the two empty glasses and the one remaining for me.

“Are you all right, Anu?” I repeat.

She nods, keeping her eyes down. I can almost see my reflection in the shine of her hair, and I wonder if someone oils it for her as she did for me. I take the glass from the tray.

“Thank you,” I say, sipping small before putting it back.

She disappears into the kitchen. I feel a little badly for how meekly she’s carrying on now, but fine, then, here it is: Part of me feels justified. I’ve eyed a fella before only to have him fall for one of my friends. Alec was the only one who seemed to see me and only me. Nadine was there that first day at the hospital when I met him, and all the GIs were forever chasing her, but Alec set his cap for me. And sweet Saint Peter, it was wonderful.

Then again, it’s not Anu’s fault she’s pretty any more than it was Nadine’s, but still . . . it stings.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.