purposes, it was Meri’s account, and Naz was just there to help her. Naz didn’t mind. He thought it was good for her. She now had her own money, and the responsibility made her even more mature than she already was. But when Meri, Richelle, and Frances began to discuss the possibility of Meri making some shorter runs on her own, Naz made it clear that was out of the question. Naz figured that he could take care of himself, but even in broad daylight the Exclave was a no-win scenario for a nine-year-old girl carrying potentially valuable goods, commodities, and money on her person.
* * *
“What took you so long?” asked Meri as she stood on the school steps and removed her ear buds.
“This is the same time I got here yesterday,” replied Naz.
“Right, late!”
“I thought I told you to wait … inside the school.”
“You did, but it’s boring in there. There’s nothing to do once chess club is over, plus it’s more exciting out here.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”
From Higginbotham to Bellarusso’s, Naz walked for the first time. The fifteen- to twenty-minute walk gave him and Meri a chance to talk about what happened at school that day, Miss Tracey, and anything else they wanted to talk about.
Once Naz and Meri arrived at Bellarusso’s, no matter where Richelle and Frances were in the store or what they were doing, they always found their way to the front. They were anxious to see Meri, give her a big hug, and ask her a series of questions. Naz didn’t mind so much that they ignored him. What bothered him most was that it took so long. Naz had one rule for working for the Market Merchants, especially when Meri was with him. He absolutely had to be home before sundown; the Exclave was no place for two kids—or anyone else for that matter—to be on the streets at night.
When Naz and Meri walked into Bellarusso’s that day, Frances was working one of the registers, as she often did. When she saw Meri, she immediately left her register, ran over, and greeted her with a big hug.
“How’s my Firecracker?” Frances asked.
“Fine, Miss Russo, how are you?” asked Meri.
“Girl, I thought I told you to call me Miss Francy.”
“You did. I just keep forgetting.”
The customer at the register was noticeably losing his patience.
Moments later, Richelle appeared from nowhere, also giving Meri a big hug. “You guys are a little late,” said Richelle as she looked at her watch.
“I told you,” said Meri, looking at Naz with a sardonic grin.
The two ladies turned to see Naz, as if they had just noticed him for the first time.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Naz, I didn’t see you standing there,” said Richelle.
“We should’ve known,” said Frances. “It’s always the weakest link,” she continued referring to Naz in a half-joking manner. “We ladies have to stick together, you know.” She winked at Meri.
The two ladies had been best friends as far back as they could remember. They started Bellarusso’s with the insurance money Richelle received after her husband had been murdered over fifteen years ago. Frances never married. Between the two women, they had seven children—all boys and all working at Bellarusso’s. It was no wonder they took such a liking to Meri.
“How was school today?” Richelle asked Meri.
“ Our day was good,” said Naz, before Meri could answer. “And I think we should all get back to work.” He pointed to the gentleman who was just about ready to lose his temper at the register. “Because I wouldn’t want to be late for my last delivery.”
They all turned in surprise and looked at Naz. Frances walked back to her register to finish assisting her customer, all the while nodding her head in approval. Richelle and Meri stood with their mouths open. This was a first. Naz usually never spoke up or out about anything.
“The silent soldier grows up,” said Richelle. She reached behind the counter and pulled out a small bundle and handed it to
* * *
“What took you so long?” asked Meri as she stood on the school steps and removed her ear buds.
“This is the same time I got here yesterday,” replied Naz.
“Right, late!”
“I thought I told you to wait … inside the school.”
“You did, but it’s boring in there. There’s nothing to do once chess club is over, plus it’s more exciting out here.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”
From Higginbotham to Bellarusso’s, Naz walked for the first time. The fifteen- to twenty-minute walk gave him and Meri a chance to talk about what happened at school that day, Miss Tracey, and anything else they wanted to talk about.
Once Naz and Meri arrived at Bellarusso’s, no matter where Richelle and Frances were in the store or what they were doing, they always found their way to the front. They were anxious to see Meri, give her a big hug, and ask her a series of questions. Naz didn’t mind so much that they ignored him. What bothered him most was that it took so long. Naz had one rule for working for the Market Merchants, especially when Meri was with him. He absolutely had to be home before sundown; the Exclave was no place for two kids—or anyone else for that matter—to be on the streets at night.
When Naz and Meri walked into Bellarusso’s that day, Frances was working one of the registers, as she often did. When she saw Meri, she immediately left her register, ran over, and greeted her with a big hug.
“How’s my Firecracker?” Frances asked.
“Fine, Miss Russo, how are you?” asked Meri.
“Girl, I thought I told you to call me Miss Francy.”
“You did. I just keep forgetting.”
The customer at the register was noticeably losing his patience.
Moments later, Richelle appeared from nowhere, also giving Meri a big hug. “You guys are a little late,” said Richelle as she looked at her watch.
“I told you,” said Meri, looking at Naz with a sardonic grin.
The two ladies turned to see Naz, as if they had just noticed him for the first time.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Naz, I didn’t see you standing there,” said Richelle.
“We should’ve known,” said Frances. “It’s always the weakest link,” she continued referring to Naz in a half-joking manner. “We ladies have to stick together, you know.” She winked at Meri.
The two ladies had been best friends as far back as they could remember. They started Bellarusso’s with the insurance money Richelle received after her husband had been murdered over fifteen years ago. Frances never married. Between the two women, they had seven children—all boys and all working at Bellarusso’s. It was no wonder they took such a liking to Meri.
“How was school today?” Richelle asked Meri.
“ Our day was good,” said Naz, before Meri could answer. “And I think we should all get back to work.” He pointed to the gentleman who was just about ready to lose his temper at the register. “Because I wouldn’t want to be late for my last delivery.”
They all turned in surprise and looked at Naz. Frances walked back to her register to finish assisting her customer, all the while nodding her head in approval. Richelle and Meri stood with their mouths open. This was a first. Naz usually never spoke up or out about anything.
“The silent soldier grows up,” said Richelle. She reached behind the counter and pulled out a small bundle and handed it to
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