I am the brave one. Jack was still hiding in the car when I got out and walked up the alley to Amazia’s doorstep. After a few more minutes, Jack finally came with Mom. She was almost holding him by the arm. ‘Cause he was shaking like a whole bowl of jelly. One with black hair and blue eyes though. Haha!

Mom rang the bell. We heard footsteps, then the door opened. The old lady was smiling. Not in a creepy way this time. She wasn’t cranky nor anything. She had a dark, smooth face with high cheekbones, long grey hair and shining green eyes. She was beautiful.

She was also wearing turquoise earrings, just like us. In the old days, getting your ears pierced was supposed to be a good thing for Navajo babies, boys included. Mom decided we would get lucky, too. So both Jack and I have one turquoise earring. We NEVER wear it at school though. That would be weird.  But enough about earrings!

“Hi, Mrs. Amazia,” Mom said. “I’m Johanna Storm, and these are my sons, Jack and Cody.”

“I’m glad you made it here so quickly,” Amazia answered. “I was waiting for you. Come in.”

While we were following her to the living-room, I noticed another picture of the baby on the wall. He was all smilin’ and playin’ with a random Cookie Monster plush. I looked up at his baby face and realized that he was actually so freaking CUTE!   And then I felt sad.

Maybe he did not exist anymore. Maybe that was the last time he got to play with his plush. Maybe his trusting eyes and happy smile had forever disappeared. Maybe he had never gotten to grow up and tell stupid jokes and eat Cookie Dough like Jack and I do. Blargh. I was going to cry.

“She’s obviously never heard ‘bout air-conditioning,” groaned Jack.