Under the Willow Root

Chapter 29

"Bayu bayushki bayu

Seedit kotik na kriyu

On ne bedin ne bahat... um..

Oo nyevo..oonye vo.."

Emily stumbles over the words and laughs a little, shaking her head. I'd laugh too, if I could. Her accent is terrible, even after practically living with Baba Nadia and me for over ten years. We always laughed about it, just like we laughed when she helped me learn English so the other pre-schoolers wouldn't make fun of me. I would give anything to laugh with her again.

"Sorry, bug. How about this one?" Emily says. "You liked it when you were little, remember?

I see the moon, the moon sees me

The moon sees somebody I would like to see

God bless the moon, and God bless me

God bless somebody I would like to see.

God bless somebody I would like to see."

Emily stops and looks into her lap. I watch curiously as her jaw and throat tighten. She swallows several times and lets out a ragged breath. She looks at the ceiling, at the door, anywhere but me. I keep my eyes fixed on her face, as if I can force her to look at me if I just stare hard enough.

"Sasha, I...I don't know how to do this. I wish Nadia were here," Emily whispers. She wipes the tears from her eyes and takes several more breaths before finally looking at me. "I'm sorry, sweetie. Ignore me. Where was I?

Do you believe in lovin', honey?

Mm, you bet I do.

I believe in lovin', honey,

When I'm lovin' you..."

* * *

I wake up to the sound of crunching. I crack an eyelid and see Sadra reclining on the bed next to me, munching on my crackers. When she sees that I'm awake, she grins and jumps onto my bed, pushing me over as she wiggles under the covers next to me.

"We did it!" she squeals, laughing.

I laugh too and hug her around the neck. "I can't believe it. I can't believe this is happening."

"It is," Sadra tells me. "Enjoy it. You're safe, at least for now."

"What about--"

Sadra shakes her head urgently. "Let's go get some food. We can take it out to the garden and talk."

"What time is it?" I ask. I take the last cracker and hold it up accusingly before cramming it into my mouth. "I'm so hungry."

"Nearly noon," Sadra tells me. She flicks away a cracker crumb from the corner of my mouth."I was here yesterday, too, but you were asleep and I couldn't stay long."

"Oh," I say. "Are you--you're not still at...you know."

"For now," Sadra says casually. "Do you like it here so far? Mother Wenla is wonderful, isn't she?"

"She is," I agree. I tell her about my midnight dance as we make our way toward the kitchens.

"I wish I could have seen it," Sadra says. "I've never seen you dance--not really."

"Well, I'm sure you will soon," I say with a broad smile. "Do you know what I have to do today?"

"What?" Sadra asks curiously.