Page 274 of The Sun Sister

There was another huge roar of applause. And I felt my heart swell with pride for my little sister’s bravery in doing what she had done tonight.

‘Me standing up here by myself won’t fix the problem. It needs every single one of us, in every town and city across the world, to act. In Africa, it’s a known cause of the spread of AIDS and other diseases, by the use of shared needles, which has to stop. Here on the streets of Manhattan, there’s few places for kids like Vanessa, a friend of mine who I met in rehab, to go for help. So tonight, I begin a campaign to open drop-in centres across the nation, places where kids can go to seek help and advice when they feel there is nowhere else to turn. The governments of the world must do their part too, by providing suitable and free facilities to kids of every social class to help them recover. I recently found out that my mother died alone in a crack den in Harlem...’

At this point, Electra’s voice broke and her grandmother came to stand by her and put an arm around her shoulder. ‘It was a terrible, undignified and lonely way to end a life, and I want to make it my mission to make sure that no young person like her suffers in that way again. Please, lobby your governments for action, and put your hands in your pockets and pledge money to the Rosa Jackson Drop-In Center Project – that was my mom, by the way,’ Electra added, as the applause and cheers ratcheted up another notch. ‘Because it’s only by standing together that we can end this growing humanitarian crisis. Thank you.’

Ally, Claudia, Ma and I stood there with tears falling freely down our cheeks. We were so overwhelmed and proud and sad at the same time that none of us had anything to say. We watched as the crowd rose to its feet and cheered my incredibly brave little sister, who had shared her story with the world. Her grandmother took her in her arms and hugged her. I thought I saw her say, ‘I love you,’ and I said it with her.

And then, a figure walked on from the side of the stage and headed towards Electra and her grandmother.

An almighty cheer went up, as the man hugged Electra and shook Stella’s hand.

‘Isn’t that Senator Obama?’ said Ally. ‘Everyone thinks there’s a chance he’s going to be the next president of America.’

‘It is,’ confirmed Ma.

We watched as he continued to talk to Stella and my grandmother off-mic and then they both stood aside to let him speak.

‘Thank you,’ he said, ‘but most importantly, thank you to Electra, who has so bravely stood here in front of the world and told her story. I reiterate and support everything she has just said to you, and please give generously to her cause.’

At that point, we stopped listening, and all sat down on the nearest couch or chair, exhausted.

Claudia sensibly handed round a box of tissues and we blew our noses hard, except Bear, who didn’t know what was going on, and cooed happily instead.

‘Well,’ said Ally as she set Bear on the floor between her legs and handed him a toy, which he immediately put into his mouth. ‘That was incredible. I think our little sister might just have got herself a whole new career as an activist.’

‘If only your father had been here to see that, he would have been so proud,’ said Ma, who was still very tearful. She was sitting next to me on the couch, so I reached for her hand and squeezed it.

‘She’s found her voice,’ I whispered, ‘and I’m just so proud of her, too.’

The whole room nodded in agreement.

‘I think we should leave her a message, don’t you?’ said Ally. ‘Tell her how amazing she was.’

‘Good idea,’ said Ma, who stood up to collect the house phone from the kitchen.

‘Wasn’t that the ex-boyfriend who was performing before she came on?’ queried Ally.

‘It was,’ I replied. ‘I’m so pleased Electra’s going to be here with us soon at Atlantis, so we can tell her in person how proud we are. What a turnaround,’ I said, thinking of the last time I’d seen her in Rio, when she’d been completely out of control. ‘And she’s absolutely right to lobby for more help from the governments,’ I said with feeling. ‘I see the drug problem on every street corner as I walk through Rio.’

Ma brought in the phone and we took Electra’s number from my mobile and dialled it. All of us said something on the message, then Ally yawned.

‘Time for bed, I think. I’m exhausted, even if Bear isn’t.’

‘You go upstairs, Ally. I’ve got jet lag, so I’m happy to stay up for a bit with him and bring him up later.’

‘Thanks, Maia,’ she said as she picked him up and handed him over to me.

I’d only arrived at Atlantis a couple of hours ago from Rio, having decided to make the most of my return to Europe after almost a year, and spend some time with Ma, Claudia, Ally and my new nephew. Floriano and Valentina were arriving just before we set sail for the Greek islands to lay Pa’s wreath. It was the first time we’d been separated for longer than a couple of nights,and it was feeling very strange.

Just then, the doorbell rang, and all four of us women jumped.

‘Who on earth can that be at this time of night?’ Ma asked nervously. ‘Christian hasn’t taken the boat out tonight, has he?’ she asked Claudia.

‘I do not think so, no, but I can check.’

Then the house phone rang in Ma’s hands, making us all jump again.

‘Allo?’ she said in French. ‘Ah, bien.’ She ended the call and headed to the front door.