Colors

two

"Hey, Mummy!" I ran inside and threw my backpack to the floor.

"Hi, beta!" My mom dusted her floury hands and stepped out from the kitchen to talk to me. "How was your day?"

"Pretty good. Leah and I won candy in science. Nothing special, though." I shrugged and went to sit on the stool in the kitchen.

My mom smiled and returned to the stove to flip the roti she was making. "That sounds special," she teased, referring to my love of candy and all things sweet.

I laughed. "I mean, it kinda was. Jackson and I turned in our assignment for English early, so I don't have too much work today!" I served myself dry potato bhaji as my mom put the cooked roti on my plate.

I wanted pasta, but I wasn't about to complain.

I dug in, savoring the amazing flavor. I tore the roti with my hands and scooped the bhaji with it. "Are you trying to burn my fingers, Mummy?" I asked, blowing my fingers but continuing to eat nonetheless. "The roti is so hot."

"You're blessed to be getting such hot food, bachha," she pointed out as she turned off the stove and put everything away.

"That's true," I agreed.

"So... Jackson? He's the chhokra who's... gay, correct?" my mom prodded, her expression neutral as she sat beside me. Leah wasn't out to everyone yet, so my mom didn't know about her.

I was honestly surprised that she remembered the term. Usually she would grunt, and I would figure out what she meant. I took another bite, carefully planning my response. "Yep," I replied, a small smile on my face.

"He's nice," she said simply.

I raised my eyebrow, pleasantly surprised. My mom wasn't against any type of person and didn't treat anyone differently, but that didn't mean she was accepting of everything either.

However, she knew that someone else's sexuality really wasn't her business, so she never meddled — something I appreciated more than I showed.

"He's very nice, actually. The nicest out of all of us," I chuckled softly, hoping I didn't cross a line. It wasn't sarcasm, but my mom sure didn't know that.

She thought everything was sarcasm with me.

"Yeah, he is," she said, her eyes fixed on the pantry door. "Never treat anyone else differently, hm? I know you don't, Laila, and I love that about you. It doesn't matter if you disagree with their preferences and way of life." My mom smiled and ran her fingers through my frizzy, tangled hair.

We sat in silence for a bit.

"Yes, Mummy."

"Good. Anyone can say they are fair to everyone, but actions speak louder than words."

I stifled a laugh at her overused adage and gave her a solemn nod.

"Now, anything else about your day?"

"Nothing else happened." I took another bite of my food as my mom started looking through her phone.

"Mummy?"

"Hm?"

"Do you know who the new neighbors are? I mean, not neighbors since they're on the street beside us, but you know what I mean," I asked curiously, trying to sound nonchalant.

My mom smiled. "I'm not sure, but I can check for you. Pappa will know."

"Okay, I'll ask him later."

"Actually, Pappa mentioned something about a family with 10-year old twins, so your brother will have friends, hopefully," my mom added.

I held back a sigh. It was like everyone my age disappeared. Akash and Mejera lived in the neighborhood across from mine, so it wasn't too far, but I just needed someone my age who lived closer to me.