Chapter One I missed Gran so much it was like having a stomachache that wouldn’t quit No one could fill the hole in my heart that she’d left when she died Not Grandpa who was visiting from India and not my parents or my best friend Bai Leng Grandpa had brought a box of treasures Gran wanted me to have but this made me miss her even more Gran was the only one who’d understood understood that school was tough Kids could 1
be super mean She’d encouraged me to stand up for myself if anyone tried to bully me Never give up trying to do the right thing no matter how hard it is she would say But try not to hurt anyone either How was I going to face another year of school without her I frowned at the odds and ends I’d tipped out of the box onto my bed Why had Gran left these things for me A crow’s feather a yellow pencil stub a necklace made of wrinkled brown beads a rusty key and a small glass bottle with some kind of spice in it I searched for a note Nothing What was I going to do with the spice Mom didn’t let me use the stove Gran had known that All of this stuff was junk wait a minute I stared at the bottle It was labeled Zayn Garam Masala A wisp of blue smoke seemed to waft 2
up and down inside it and I had the weirdest feeling it was trying to escape I rattled the bottle Oi Stop Startled I looked around Who said that My desk and chair returned my gaze mutely Kiara Mom called from downstairs downstairs Dinner’s ready 3
