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now.
    We walked into Chinatown. Immediately, I felt eyes on me. At last it occurred to me that someone might have already told my father I hadn’t shown up for work today. Nothing to do about that now either. I wanted to push the boundaries. I wanted to see if he’d actually notice me … and, if he did, do something about it.
    The three of us sat on the curb outside the telephone exchange—our knees pressed together, getting to know each other, and discussing what songs to pick for the next round of auditions. This was a new experience for me, at once exhilarating and sickening. A sudden panicked desire to run home and shut the door to my room nearly overwhelmed me. The cage that usually held me came as much from deep inside me as it did from my father. But when I saw Monroe approaching, his strength gave me courage. He wore his usual outfit: dungarees, a T-shirt, and a blue college jacket with CAL written in script on the left breast. I knew the effect he had on girls with his smooth skin, wide eyes, and longish black hair that brushed across his forehead. Ruby would never have a chance, but Grace might do. What would it be like to have someone like Grace live in the compound with us? I let that idea flitter across my mind. I smiled as I rose to my feet. Ruby and Grace got up too.
    “Monroe, I want you to meet my new friends. Grace, Ruby.” I tugged on my brother’s arm. “This is Monroe.”
    I could read the concern on his face as he stared at the two strangers, especially Ruby.
    “Monroe,” I went on in a pleading voice, “can you give me another couple of hours? Grace and Ruby are going to take me shopping.”
    “I’m not sure about this, Helen,” he said.
    “Please?”
    “What’ll I tell our ba?” he asked.
    “Tell him I had to stay late at work—”
    “But you aren’t at work—”
    “Then I’ll take the blame.”
    He glanced warily from Ruby to Grace. He took his responsibility as my older brother very seriously.
    “Please, Monroe, please?” I begged as hard as when I was five and he had a bag of sesame candies I wanted him to share.
    It was his duty to watch out for me, but he loved me too. More important, Grace seemed to have caught his eye, just as I’d hoped. He’d want to impress her with his openness.
    “You promise she’ll be safe?” he asked, his voice demanding truth.
    “Absolutely,” the two girls replied in unison.
    “All right then.” He addressed me directly again. “I’ll cover for you this one time. I’ll see you back here at seven o’clock.” He tucked his hands in his pants pockets and nodded at Grace. “Nice to meet you.” With that, he pulled his shoulders up under his ears and sauntered back the way he’d come.
    We found a telephone booth and looked up the address for a dance shop, then walked several blocks out of Chinatown until we found it. We made it just before closing time, but the clerk volunteered to stay late. Ruby and Grace helped me pick out navy satin shorts and a long-sleeved white blouse to wear for the audition, as well as two pairs of dance shoes—one for regular dancing and the other for tap. Their eyes thinned into slits when I opened my wallet. Cash! I ignored them, saying, “I hope this won’t be a waste of money.”
    “Don’t worry about it.” Ruby seemed sure of everything . “We’ve got two full days to teach you the basics.”
•   •   •
    I TOOK THEM to a noodle shop on Grant that I promised was one of the best in Chinatown, but Grace looked as jittery as a wet mouse.
    “What should I get?” she asked.
    “Pick your favorite. Remember, I’m buying.”
    Grace blinked. “What I mean is, I don’t know what these things are. I’ve never eaten Chinese food.”
    “Where did you say you’re from?” Ruby pried.
    “I didn’t say, but I’m from Plain City, Ohio,” she answered, guarded.
    “Is it one of those places that’s too small to have a Chinese restaurant?” I inquired.
    “Only about two thousand