Year's Best Young Adult Speculative Fiction 2014 by Alisa Krasnostein & and Alisa Krasnostein

Author:Alisa Krasnostein & and Alisa Krasnostein [Rios, edited by Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-922101-35-8
Publisher: Twelfth Planet Press

* * *

He walked me home, planting one last graceless kiss on my cheek. Mama called from the kitchen when I opened the door. A waft of cinnamon tickled my nose as I waved to Daniel and went inside.

I hugged Mama from behind, peering around her generous form to watch her shape the doughy lump.

“Is it a gingerbread man?” I asked.

She shook her head, body shuddering with the movement. With a satisfied grunt she poked raisins into the ‘head’.

“What is it, then?”

“It’s something for me, sweetling,” she said, and I let go of her waist, stepping back so she could put it on a tray. I considered the little loaf.

“It looks like a baby.”

“Mmm.” She smiled at me. “Harold Croft visited while you were walking with Daniel. Annie’s in early labour. I said I’d go around when it was time.”

“Exciting,” I said. “So that’s not for her?”

“No, nor for you.”

I pouted, then asked, “Mama, why don’t other people taste like me?”

She tipped her head to the side and looked at me. Heat crept up my cheeks.

“I mean, when I kiss your forehead, you’re salty. But I’m not. And Daniel…”

Mama’s eyebrows shot up.

I bit my lip. “No one smells the same as me. Not even you. Is there no one like me?”

She wiped her hands on her apron, took it off and hung it on a hook. “You’re just special.” She kissed my cheek. “You’re my sweetling.”

I glanced at the dough baby. “Mama, am I a real girl?”

Her face paled, and her mouth flapped wordlessly before she finally said, “Of course you are. What a strange thing to say!” But her gaze shifted from mine and she hurried off before I could ask anything else.

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