The Sinclair Sisters

Xīnnián kuàilè !

St Petersburg, Florida
February, 2007

Violet

Girl number five came in today.

It's really sickening how he's just picking girls from different part of the world, like the world's his all you can eat buffet.

I mean like seriously - I'm an Indian, Jordan's a Venezuelan, Savannah's a Canadian, Tamala's a Mozambican and Koby's a Tanzanian.

The new girl? She looked Asian.

She had their slanted eyes and small mouth and shiny black hair.

But she was terrified. Absolutely terrified.

She kept looking around like sooner or later some bogeyman's going to jump out from the walls. I almost felt sorry for her, but then she's living with an actual bogeyman, so I'm not so sure I can help.

He didn't spare a glance at her, just dumped her in the room and left. I smelt her and took one look at her eyes.

If my parents could have heard the words from my mouth, they would have had a heart attack and sent me to a monastery. I shouldn't have sworn, but I couldn't help it. Didn't even wait long before turning her.

I tapped the girl. She looked at me with her wide eyes that were once a dark brown but were now turning pale green. "It's okay," I said soothingly. "Everything's gonna be okay." She tilted her head and said, "Nǐhǎo."

I frowned. This cannot be good.

Now, I'm no linguist, but I could easily tell she said hello in Chinese. Problem? My Chinese was poor, pretty much little to nothing, so how the hell was I supposed to talk to her?

I turned to the other girls. It was nearing dusk, so they were just waking up. Jodi frowned as she saw the girl, "Another one?"

I nodded, "Yeah, but we have a problem. Do you know how to speak Chinese?"

Koby raised a brow, "Only Swahili, I'm afraid. And Arabic, but that's it."

"I can speak Chinese," Vannah said and yawned, "But mine's a bit rusty, and I'm not that good." "I can help," Jodi said. "I know a bit of Chinese too."

"Nǐhǎo," Vannah said, "wǒ de míngzì shì dàcǎoyuán , nǐ de shì shénme ?" The girl smiled, "wǒ de míngzì shì zhēnzhū ." Vannah turned to us, "Her name is Zhenzhen." I frowned in thought. Chinese people have weird names. But then again, my full name was Abhinandana, who was I to talk? Jodi noticed me chuckling to myself and shook her head, "You always laugh at the weirdest times."

I grinned, "I like to keep things interesting." She shook her head again. I think she's given up on me. Vannah and Jodi kept talking to Zhenzhen, introducing her into the system I guess, and I got ready to sleep. Tomorrow was another day.

∆

I ran as fast as my little tiger legs could carry me. Why, you ask? Well, I stole a box of cupcakes from a store but that's not the problem. What really put me in the spotlight, was when I stole a pack of sparklers. I did not realise it was such a big deal to steal a pack of sparklers in this country. I mean seriously people, I didn't take a whole box of fireworks, now did I?

I need to go back to India.

Either way, I kept running. I had lost the store owner a while back, so I quickly turned into an alleyway to hide. He passed my hiding spot and I sighed in relief. That's over. I dragged my feet back home.

Now, another question. What am I doing outside the house? That's easy, although I would admit it's a bit shocking. Last year, he enrolled us in school so we could 'experience the outside world' for a bit. But I was put in a different school than the other girls much farther away, so they always got home before me. I got home fortunately still in tact and went down to the bunker, but not before stealing a box of matches from the kitchen.

Zhenzhen was telling Vannah something and Jodi was translating for Koby and Tammi. Apparently it was a joke, and I laughed as well once I heard it. They looked up as they heard me. "Vi's back!" Koby squealed and they clapped with her. I raised a brow. Dear God, I think they've finally lost it.

"Guess what? He's gone out for the day, to some company to test out their prototype," Jodi said, grinning. "We're alone." Now that made me smile. I swear, I think I heard angels singing.

I smiled, "Good. Cause I have something." I dropped my backpack and brought out my goods. The pack of sparklers, box of cupcakes and my handmade red envelope. Sounds random? Lemme explain.

Yesterday was the start of the Chinese New year, Year of the Pig. I saw the news on the TV in his office, but I originally didn't pay any mind. When Zhenzhen came, it was obvious she was scared beyond her wits and I figured, what better way to welcome her than with a taste of home? Luckily my school has a computer room, so I did my research and put together some small stuff to celebrate the new year.

I showed Zhenzhen and gave her the red envelope. I lit a sparkler, "Happy New year Zhen." Vannah translated and a slow grin spread on her face before she tackled me with a hug. "Xièxiè !" she yelled. I smiled. I didn't need to know Chinese before I figured out that that was thank you.

∆

Our day went on with cupcake eating and playing with sparklers. Zhenzhen sang some Chinese songs that I had no idea what they meant, but she seemed happy so I didn't question it.

Later that night, when she was about to go to sleep, she placed her red envelope under the shirt she used as a pillow. I frowned. "What's she doing? Why doesn't she want to open the envelope?" I asked Vannah. Vannah asked her in Chinese and she replied excitedly. Vannah started laughing. I turned to her, "Well?"

"It's a tradition," Vannah said. "They hide the red envelope under their pillows for seven nights after the new year. It brings good luck and fortune." I smiled ruefully. Good luck. I've been lacking one of those since I was three.

"She chose Essence," Vannah said. I turned to her.

"We told her in school and she said Essence," she explained. I raised a brow, "Why Essence?"

Vannah shrugged, "She didn't say, but she did pick Essence." I turned back to the girl. Essence. Maybe she could be our good luck essence.

God knows we need one of those to survive.