Page 20 of Dawn Caravan
She scrambled out of Beatrice’s arms and ran toward the chairs.
“No running,” Ben and Beatrice said at the same time.
“I’m not.” She slowed to a very fast walk. “I’m walking fast.”
“Okay, well fast-walk into your towel and then into the house please.”
“Okaaaay.” Sadia disappeared under a blue shark-shaped towel before she fast-walked into the house.
Ben turned to Beatrice. “She’s so great.”
His aunt smiled. “We were worried about attachment issues with her, but she’s such a survivor. Stubborn as a little mule sometimes, but that’s just who she is.”
“She’s great.” Ben watched Beatrice. “Giovanni said you’re not talking to her.”
“To Sadi— Oh.” Beatrice shook her head. “Toher. No.”
“When she visits—”
“I’m not going to fight with him,” she said. “They’ve been friends for too long, and Sadia adores her. But I don’t have to like it, and I don’t have to hang around.” She stood and Ben watched in mild fascination as she shook and the water fled from her skin. No towel. No drips. “I usually go to Dez’s house when she comes.”
“Does she visit a lot?”
Beatrice shrugged. “A few times over the past couple of years.”
He stuck his hands in his pockets. “Why?”
“For the baby. Sadia loves her, and she asks…” Beatrice wrapped a deep blue robe around herself. “Giovanni says she’s different.”
“Different how?”
She shrugged. “Who knows? She’s like five thousand years old, Ben. Do you really think anyone that old can change?”
“I don’t know.”
“I doubt it.” Beatrice walked toward the house. “I highly doubt it.”
6
Ben was sleeping when Chloe arrived the next day. He woke and heard her cheerful voice in the kitchen, chatting with Dema, Sadia, and Zain.
“And then at school I have three friends.”
“Only three?”
“I play with everyone.” Sadia’s voice was cautious. “But friends are different.”
“I think you’re right,” Chloe said.
“Dema says you don’t have to be friends with everyone, just be polite.”
“That’s good advice.”
Ben paused outside the kitchen door.
“Real friends…” Sadia took a breath. “Those are more special, and Lara Bright, I am not friends with her because she pushed my friend Jason down during free playing time and she’s mean.”
Maybe Ben needed to find this Lara Bright and have a talk with her…
