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"Mama," I said softly, shaking my head.

"She's right, Rain. It's a way out for you, child."

"I don't want to go to some snobby school," I said. It was as if Beni had whispered in my ear.

"Hush up, child. It may be a snobby school but it will be clean and safe."

"I don't have the kind of clothes I need to go to school like that, Mama"

Mama looked troubled by that and turned to my mother.

"I can fix that. Meet me at Saks tomorrow and I'll get you what you need. I'll be there at three. Here's the address," she said opening her jeweled purse and plucking out a card. "I have a personal salesperson. That's her name. Just ask for her if you get there before I do."

I stared at the card she held toward me.

"You really want me to live with your mother?" I asked, still shocked by the speed with which events were occurring. My mother didn't look at me.

She turned to Mama to reply.

"It's the best I can do," she said.

"I'm sure it is," Mama said shaking her head. "And that's the pity of it."

My mother put the card down in front of me. Then she rose and grasped her purse.

"I'll take care of the bill on the way out," she said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Rain," she added, turning to me. We watched her walk away.

"I want to stay with you, Mama," I said immediately. "Not with some strange old lady even if she is my grandmother."

"You go where your blood takes you," Mama muttered. At least know you'll be safe and out of hell's kitchen; and you know you'll get the best. If you can't do this for yourself, at least do it for me."

She took another bite of her entree.

"This isn't all that bad," she said, "but why don't they just name it what it is instead of using all those fancy words?"

"Mama. Who named me Rain? Was that her doing?"

"No," Mama said. "She never give you anything before this, honey. Not your name, nothing. Except the blood running through your veins, and whether she knows it or not, or you know it now, someday, that's going to count for something.

"Someday," Mama said, her eyes filling with some deep wisdom I might never understand.

Or maybe, I'd never want to understand.

Only time itself knew that answer.

9

A Whole New World

.

Defeat like some dark blue liquid stain

darkened Roy's face when he heard what Mama had arranged for me. He listened, his head bowed, his eyes haunted with pain. When he spoke, his voice was merely a whisper.

"That's good," he said even though I knew his heart was being shredded. "I'm leaving in a week and I won't be around here to protect you."

"There," Mama said as if that was all the confirmation she needed to be sure she was doing the right thing.