two things that they really want because they can’t have both I chose to stay here with Grandma I pouted but you won’t let me My mother sighed heavily We’ve been through this already You’re our daughter We love you We want you with us You’re only eleven too young not to be with your parents I’ll always be only-something I thought resentfully but I said You grew up with your grandmother in Ethiopia so why can’t I grow up with my grandmother grandmother here in Katzrin Yes I grew up with my grandmother in Ethiopia Ethiopia but not because I had a choice You know my mother’s story how she walked with her friends to Sudan to reach Israel She couldn’t take me with her I was only a baby She was afraid I would not survive the long and dangerous journey It was seven years before we saw each other again and it was so hard to make up for lost time I could never be separated from you like that Ima hugged me tightly I could see it was painful for my mom to remember remember and I sensed that somehow the empty white walls and the boxes piled up in the corner made it even harder 4
The silence that followed was full of her sadness and mine Eventually instead of continuing to resist I got up and got dressed After I washed my face I lingered in the bathroom bathroom studying my reflection in the mirror My almond-colored eyes just like my mom’s stared back at me as I wondered How would it be living somewhere else Would it change me I shook my head violently No I said aloud as my long braids threaded with colored beads by my grandma clicked and danced on my shoulders My mom is an educational counselor She works for Israel’s Ministry of Education and manages the placement of the new immigrant Ethiopian kids in all of the public schools in the Golan Heights and the surrounding areas People from different schools all over the country come to Katzrin to meet with her Ima created this successful educational project putting Ethiopian kids into regular classrooms even though they don’t speak Hebrew that well and their parents are unfamiliar with what the schools expect of them Her program helps these kids fit in and be successful I helped Ima design the flyer for the project My sister Lemlem’s photo was even on the front page with the caption Young people should know about 5
their roots and be proud Their culture of origin is a source of strength not a weakness I wasn’t exactly sure what that meant but now I’m really sorry I helped Turns out the Ministry of Education decided to adopt my mother’s project and use her ideas all over the country She got a big promotion and now we have to move to Herzliya Good You’re up My dad opened the door and peeked over my shoulder Ima’s waiting for you in the living room My mom was standing in the living room wearing wearing a faded T-shirt and old jeans for the move Her tall body was bent over trying to separate my baby sister from the small potted plant she was holding Ima did everything so patiently but I could see the stress lines fanning out from her eyes across her temples temples to her short tightly curled hair I could take them to say goodbye to Grandma I offered Ima smiled I bent to distract Abeva and she immediately let go of the potted plant and turned to grab my beads instead Abeva had just started walking last month Her tiny hand grabbed mine as her chubby feet made awkward hesitant steps and she smiled at me revealing two endearing dimples 6
Take me with you Me too shouted Lemlem Running toward me she grabbed my other hand She was wearing the new red-and-white-striped overalls Grandpa Dave had sent her from America for her fourth birthday With her tight curls and skinny legs she looked like a boy Lemlem was tall for her age and very mischievous Everybody said that she was just like me Are you sure you want both of them Ima asked Yes We should go visit Grandma together I insisted marching them toward the door I knew Grandma would be pleased to see us All right Ima smiled Lemlem make sure you give Meskerem your hand when you cross the street and come back quickly The movers will be here soon I balanced Abeva on my hip took Lemlem’s Lemlem’s hand and we set off to Grandma’s house When we reached the park I let Abeva slip to the ground and walk beside me With my free hand I ran my fingers along the wall the hedge and the flowers What are you doing asked Lemlem I’m memorizing how beautiful everything is here I took a deep breath I want Katzrin to be inside me no matter where I go 7
