Looking For Bapu by Anjali Banerjee

Author:Anjali Banerjee [Banerjee, Anjali]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-48766-7
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2006-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

a Googles for the closest wig shop: www.wilsonswigs-for-all-reasons.com. For once, I wish my computer was broken.

“Just over on Chico Road,” she says.

“I'm not going. My hair will grow back. Then I'll let it grow out longer and longer and get tangled like the holy—”

I cover my mouth.

“Holy what?” Ma gives me a piercing look.

“Holy smokes. Holy Toledo. Holy cow.”

I pull on a woolen hat, which scratches my bald head, and the three of us climb into the car.

Wilson's Wigs for All Reasons is at the end of a strip mall. Inside, it's like the Halloween shop. Blond wigs, long wigs, curly wigs, red wigs, brown wigs, even white wigs on Styrofoam heads. There's a bald boy with his mother on the other side of the store. He looks like an egg, a familiar egg. Andy! He waves at me and I wave back, then shove my hands in my pockets.

The man behind the counter, with a nametag reading BERNIE, is obviously wearing one of the brown wigs, which has slipped sideways on his head. He smiles and nods. “I'll be right with you folks.”

Ma and Dad and I sit. Ma pulls off my hat, grabs a black shaggy wig and puts it on my head. I look like Elvis Presley. Dad and I laugh.

In the mirror I catch a better glimpse of Andy.

“He's gonna come out of this just fine,” Bernie says to Andy's mom.

“The doctors say he's doing well. Right?” Andy's mother runs her hand over his head.

Andy nods, but it seems to take all his effort.

“That's the best we could ask for.” Bernie hands Andy's mother a box and says as they leave, “I sure do wish you folks the best.”

I have an urge to run after Andy, to shake his hand and tell him everything will be okay, only I don't know if that's true.

Ma and Dad glance at each other. I take off the fuzzy wig and try on another one, a black one with fine, straight hair.

“I look like a girl,” I say, taking off the wig.

“How can I help you folks?” Bernie comes over and glances at my head.

“We need a wig until his hair grows back,” Ma says.

Bernie measures my head all different ways. The tape measure feels cold against my skin. “I have just the right hair system for you, young man. Synthetic fibers. Less expensive than human hair, and the color won't fade.”

“What about real hair?” Ma asks.

I don't want to wear someone else's hair!

Bernie drapes the tape measure around his neck. “We can custom-make one, ma'am. Takes a few weeks.”

“We have two days!” Ma's voice rises.

“Ma, I can go like this. Or not have my picture taken!”

Dad stands. “It's okay. We don't need a wig.”

“Wait—” Bernie says. “I have his size in Hair-for-Kids. You'll love it. Machine-made cap. Durable!” He disappears and comes back with a black wig. It's perfect. It could almost be my own hair.

Ma and Dad appraise me. How will I become holy this way?

“This will do,” Ma says.

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