Threads by Ami Polonsky

Author:Ami Polonsky
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Published: 2016-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

Yuming

THE GRUMBLING OF my stomach is loud enough to be heard over the groans of thunder, and despite the fact that we’re huddled under the awning of a closed store, I’m soaked. Massive puddles have already formed in the dirt road. The moon, visible just a little while ago, is completely hidden; it’s pitch-black now.

“Well, I guess we’re officially safe from Mr. Zhang,” Kai says from somewhere to my left, a hint of anger in his voice. “He couldn’t see or hear us even if he was across the street right now. We should have gone to that bar. Maybe someone would have let us stay in their home overnight if—”

“No way,” I say. “That would have been stupid.”

“Okay,” Jing pipes in, “enough debating. What are we going to do? I’m starving.”

“Me, too,” Li announces.

“Yeah, me, too,” I say.

There is fumbling at the doorway behind us. “Kai?” I ask quickly, spinning around.

“It’s just me.” He sighs. “All right, Li, where’s that piece of metal I told you to put in your pocket?”

“Metal?” Jing asks.

“Here,” Li says, handing it to him.

“How is a piece of metal going to—” I start to ask. The answer is the creak of a door. “Did you just open that lock?”

“I did.” I can hear the smile in Kai’s voice and, before I know it, a dim light from a single lamp pours out of the store, illuminating the silver raindrops in its path. “I know, I know,” Kai says as Li, Jing, and I step, dripping, through the doorway and into the small grocery. “Too risky to have the light on. I agree, so let’s do this quickly.”

I look around at the shelves. They are packed with everything one could possibly want or need: T-shirts, paper, pens and pencils, bandages for blistered feet, Coca-Cola, cookies, Guo Dan Pi. I gawk—especially at the food.

Li is already walking down the aisle, removing a variety of items and rearranging the goods around them so as not to leave holes. Jing has found a pile of rags, and she’s wiping the floor behind him.

“Here,” she interrupts. “Give me your shoes, Li.”

He kicks them off, and she places them on top of the rag to dry. Then she takes her own shoes off. Kai does the same before standing in the middle of the small store, barefoot, surveying the walls as if taking inventory.

“Kai,” I say uncomfortably, “you look as if you’re plotting a murder.” I wrap my arms around my soaked body, thinking both of how hungry I am and how wrong it is to steal from the store owner.

Kai studies me in the dim light as the rain pounds on the tin roof overhead. Self-conscious, I hug myself tighter.

“Where do you come from, anyway?” he asks. He seems angry, as though he doesn’t want the hassle of having to explain himself to me.

“Where do you come from?” I respond, suddenly defensive.

He smiles at me a little, correcting himself. “I asked you first.”

I nod. “About three hours west of Shanghai.

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