to counteract the effect. I was standing on the countertop, trying to find the place where Clemence hid the bottle, when Sonja came in the back door. She was carrying a plastic shopping bag with sturdy handles, and at first I thought she’d shopped again with my money and was coming to show Clemence her purchases. I clambered down with the bottle in my hand and said, in a belligerent tone, So, you went on another spending spree! I stood before her. We’re going to dig up those passbooks, I said. We’re gonna go around and get all that money back, Sonja.
All right, she said, her blue eyes soft with hurt. That’s fine.
Stop this talk of money. Mooshum stumbled close to Sonja. Took her arm. He spoke silkily.
This old man has money and a bottle too, ma chère niinimoshenh.
Mooshum steered Sonja and her heavy shopping bag toward the bedroom.
Get out of here now, he said to me. Get! He held his hand out for the bottle.
But I stood my ground.
I’m not going anywhere, I said. Clemence told me to stay.
I followed them into the bedroom. They stared at me in a helpless way. I sat down on the bed.
I’m not leaving, at least, until I see what’s in that bag.
Mooshum gave me an outraged snort. He snatched the bottle from my hand and took a quick pull. Sonja sat down sullenly and puffed out her lips. She was wearing one of her tracksuits, plush and pink, and a T-shirt with a plunging neckline; a silver heart at the end of a silver chain pointed to the shadowy swelling line where her breasts were pushed together. Her hair glowed in light from the window behind her.
Joe, she said, this is Mooshum’s birthday present.
What is?
What’s in the bag.
Well, give it to him, then.
It’s . . . ah . . . a grown-up gift.
A grown-up gift?
Sonja made a face that meant duh.
My throat shut. I looked from Mooshum to Sonja, back and forth. They wouldn’t look at each other.
I’m gonna ask you to leave in a nice way, Joe.
But as she spoke she started taking things from the bag—not exactly clothes—tatters of cloth and sequiny things and glittering tassels and some long strands of hair and fur. Heeled sandals with long leather laces. I’d seen this stuff before, on her, in my folder labeled HOMEWORK.
I’m not leaving. I sat down next to Mooshum, on his low cot.
You are too! Sonja stared at me. Joe! Her face hardened in a way I had not seen before. Get outta here, she ordered.
I won’t, I said.
No? She stood, hands on her hips, and puffed air into her cheeks, mad.
I was mad, too, but what I said surprised me.
You’re gonna let me stay. Because if you don’t, I’ll tell Whitey about the money.
Sonja froze and sat back down. She was holding some shiny cloth. She stared at me. A remote, mystified look crept onto her face. A shiny film flooded her eyes, making her look so young.
Really, she said. Her voice was sad, a whisper. Really?
I should have left, right then. In one half hour I’d wish I had, but also be glad I stayed. I’ve never felt all one way about what happened next.
Money again, saaah, cried Mooshum in disgust. Which made me think about the money and about Sonja’s diamond earrings.
I grabbed Mooshum’s bottle and drank. The whiskey hit me and my eyes watered too.
He’s a good boy, said Mooshum.
Sonja wouldn’t take her eyes off me. You think so? You really think he’s a good boy? She sat down and slapped the shiny bra she held against her knee.
He takes good care of me. Mooshum drank and offered me the bottle again. I passed it to Sonja.
You’ll tell Whitey, huh?
She gave me an ugly smile, a smile that jolted me. Then she knocked back a long swallow. Mooshum took a sip and handed the bottle back to me. Sonja narrowed her eyes until the blueness turned black. So it’s you and Whitey. Okay then. I’m onna dress in the bathroom. You boys stay right here. And if you ever say a word about anything to anybody, Joe, I will cut off your puny dick.
My jaw dropped, and she laughed mean. Can’t have it both ways, you lying little phony. I’m not momming you anymore.
She took a tape player out of the bottom of her bag, plugged it into the wall, and popped in a cassette.
When I come back in, turn the music on, she ordered.