Part 6 (1/2)

And where was everyone else?

- Zavion walked through the door that separated the living room from the kitchen. Ms. Cyn was in blue jeans and a t-s.h.i.+rt, her long gray dreadlocks tied back in a scarf, standing in front of a big cutting board.

”Do you need some help?” Zavion asked.

She whipped around so fast her hair slapped her in the face.

”Lordy, child!” she said. ”You scared the living pee out of me!”

One of her dreadlocks had stuck to a piece of dough that was on her face, just hanging there, like it was glued on.

The skin around her eyes folded into wrinkle marks and she laughed.

”Did you have a good nap? No one had the heart to wake you.”

No, thought Zavion. He didnt think hed ever sleep well again.

”What time is it?” he said.

”A little after two. You wanna take over making this bread?” Ms. Cyn asked. ”Heres a secret.” She leaned in toward Zavion. ”I despise cooking.” She said the word despise like it was two words. Deeee Spies. ”And if Im going to let you be witness to the whole truth, Zavion, honey, I despise the very kitchen itself. There, I said it. Amen.”

Zavion stood staring at the bread dough.

”It doesnt like me, but it wont bite you,” she said. ”Go on.”

He wrapped his hands on either side of the dough. It was warm. He squeezed so it rose up.

”Push on it,” said Ms. Cyn.

It was stiff. Zavion got up onto his knees on the stool in front of him so he could put his whole body into it.

”Thats right,” said Ms. Cyn. She stood behind him and put her hands on his hands. ”Now turn it, fold it, and push again. Its called kneading,” she said. ”And look at that. Youre hired.”

Push the dough, then turn it, fold it, and then push again.

He grabbed the rhythm like it was a life preserver.

”How many times do I knead it?” said Zavion.

”Youll feel it get more elastic,” said Ms. Cyn.

”How many times?” he asked again.

”Maybe forty or fifty times.”

”Forty-five?”

”Yes, child. Forty-five.” Ms. Cyn took Zavions shoulder and gently turned him toward her. ”Do you know what youre doing right there?” she said. Her eyes were s.h.i.+ny. Zavion shook his head. ”Youre making gluten.”

”Whats gluten?”

”Its a protein that keeps the bread from falling apart.” She looked like she was about to cry. ”It also helps create little air pockets that let the dough rise on up.”

Zavion liked the sound of that.

Ms. Cyn shook her head and clapped her hands. ”Hows that gash on your leg healing?” she said. ”May I?” She knelt down and pulled up his pant leg. ”Nicely. Good.”

The kitchen door opened.

Osprey walked in wearing high-heeled sandals, a scarf, and large, round sungla.s.ses. She was holding on to a leash attached to a watering can.

”Good morning to you! Good morning to you!” she sang. ”Good morning, dear-” She paused and pulled her sungla.s.ses up onto her head. ”Good morning, dear new boy who I forget the name of! Good morning to you!”

”Uh-its not morning,” Zavion said.

”But thats how the song goes.” Osprey pulled her sungla.s.ses to the edge of her nose and stared at Zavion. ”Whats your name again?”

”Zavion.”

”Well, Zavion, this is Flower.” She pointed to the watering can. ”You have a pet?” said Osprey. She did a somersault on the kitchen floor. ”A dog?”

”No,” said Zavion.

”I had a dog,” said Osprey. She spun in circles around Zavions stool. ”Im still teaching Flower how to do tricks, but my dog, Crow, he knew how to do all of them. He could roll over. He could sit with a piece of food on his nose and then flip it up in the air and eat it. He could play dead.” Osprey was making Zavion dizzy. ”Now hes dead all the time.” She stopped spinning and flopped on the floor.

Ms. Cyn grabbed up Osprey and hugged her tight. ”You hungry, little glamour girl?” She kissed each of the lenses on Ospreys sungla.s.ses. Osprey giggled.

The kitchen door opened again.

”Dinner would be ready sooner if your Grand-Auntie Cyn had done her job,” said Enzo, leaning into the kitchen.

”h.e.l.lo to you too,” said Ms. Cyn.

”Youd think the floor was made of snakes the way youre afraid to step foot in this kitchen here,” said Enzo.

Zavion flinched. Water moccasins. In his kitchen.

”Now, you hush-” said Ms. Cyn.

”Come on outside and play with me, little angel girl,” said Enzo.

Osprey wiggled her way out of Ms. Cyns arms. ”I gotta go take Flower out to pee and then we can play,” she said as she skipped out of the kitchen, dragging the watering can behind her.

- Push the dough, then turn it, fold it, and then push again.