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word, but it sounded perfect for what she wanted to convey.
     
    Mari’s eyes widened.
     
    “That’s nice,” Mama said. “I hope to see you soon. I bet you’ve grown. How tall are you now?”
     
    “I’m not a giant yet.”
     
    “I hope Mari can drive you to see me one day.”
     
    Her voice was so clear, like Mama was seated right beside her. If she just moved her free hand out, surely Mama would take and grab it, blowing kisses against her fingers.
     
    “I want to see you soon. I love you, Kiki.”
     
    “Yeah, I hope so. Here’s Mari.” Kiki stood, thrust the phone into her sister’s hand and left the room. She pounded her feet all the way down the hallway to her bedroom.
     
    She thought she’d slam the door. Instead she collapsed onto her bed, turned toward the wall, and muffled a sob. She stroked Yoneko’s fur, the smooth patches that were not worn, running her finger along the foot Mama had sewed. She saw the cramped house in Asheville, every inch teeming with furry critters, puppets, Mama’s loves. If Mama really loved her, why did she choose them over her? Why couldn’t Mama clean those puppets out of her house and live like a normal person?
     
    She felt tears on her cheeks, then a hand on her back.
     
    “Thank you for talking to her. You made her happy.”
     
    “Those stupid puppets make her happy, not me!”
     
    Mari sat on the bed, and Kiki turned to face her. “Remember I told you that Mama isn’t well? She has a problem.”
     
    Kiki chewed on her clenched fist. She hoped Mari wouldn’t go into another lecture about how some people suffer from addictions.
     
    Mari just massaged her shoulder. “She does love you.”
     
    “Why can’t she throw away all those puppets and clean her house?”
     
    “I don’t know …” Mari’s voice trailed off. “Hey,” she said a minute later, “why don’t we have some cookies?”
     
    Kiki sat up. “What kind?”
     
    “What do you think?” Mari smiled into her eyes.
     
    Kiki brushed a tear from her cheek. “Oatmeal?”
     
    “You bet!”
     
    Kiki laughed. Maybe this evening wasn’t going to be so bad. Maybe over cookies, she’d even tell Mari that she was going to fix bikes at Russell Brothers Auto Repair. As her mood rose, she grabbed her pirate hat off the closet floor and fit it over her head. Its broad brim curved like hands bent to cup a drink of mountain water from a stream. Two red and gold feathers sailed out of the back. Kiki had wanted a flamboyant Jack Sparrow pirate hat—or at least one with a shiny brass buckle that if polished enough, you could see your reflection in. Yet this hat was all Mama found when she went out to look for a Halloween costume for Kiki two years ago. Although it wasn’t exactly what she wanted, there were times you should just be happy with what you got.
     
    Over a glass of milk and two cookies, Kiki came close to telling Mari her good news. But she didn’t want to make Mari angry, so perhaps it was best to keep her news to herself. She’d just head over to the shop tomorrow after school and get home before Mari returned from work. Or she’d call Mari at the tearoom to say she was going to a friend’s house to do homework. That would be a lie, but it would make Mari happy. Sometimes little lies weren’t bad, were they? She’d have to ask Pastor Clayton.
     
    T he next day at school, Angie said her friends were going to have a bike-riding contest next week—and Kiki was not invited. Kiki tried to ignore Angie. Today she wouldn’t let her ruin her good mood. In two hours and seventeen minutes she was going to run home, get on her bicycle, and ride to the auto shop. Tonight after dinner, for sure, she’d call Ricky to tell him how she amazed them at fixing her bike and so now she had a job. She saw Ricky’s tender eyes, his smile, and knew her friend would be happy for her. He’d say things like, “That’s awesome” and “Way to go, Kiki!” She’d smile into the phone and feel