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
Lemlem looked around us and then closed her eyes and took a deep breath copying me She ran her little fingers gently over the flower petals Now Katzrin is inside me too she declared earnestly I patted her hair and smiled Let’s go I said Grandma Lemlem called running along the path into Grandma’s garden Grandma got up slowly from her garden rocking chair stretching out both arms to hug Lemlem I paused at the gate Abeva straddling my hip and looked at Grandma from a distance trying to get used to the idea of saying goodbye Why are you standing there Come in Grandma called reaching out to take Abeva from me Grandma looks a lot like my mom except with more wrinkles and silver hair Age has rounded her shoulders so she’s closer in height to me than my mom Her smile made me burst into tears I couldn’t help it The tears just kept coming despite the fact that I never cry not even when I split my knee open on the playground at school and needed six stitches 8
