is changing. I can’t seem to keep up. The minute I figure out something, that changes, too.”
“Welcome to adulthood.”
Tracy wondered if she would ever feel at home in that particular locale.
“Maturity definitely has its finer points,” Gladys said, reading Tracy’s mind. “But I think you’ve experienced that already.”
Tracy knew she had just received Gladys’s final approval. “You’re coming down to see the unveiling of the mural?”
“Of course I’m coming down to see your greatest achievement, dear. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
Janya drove the two men in her life to the recreation center and parked at the back of the lot. She had tried to persuade them that there was no need to see the mural today. Instead she had promised a tour when the center was less crowded, but neither man would be persuaded. If the mural was a failure once it was unveiled, she had not wanted them to see her disgrace. But when she had hinted at this, they had only laughed at her.
Despite her worries, she was glad to have them with her. Yash was returning to India next week, so she wanted to spend as much time with her brother as she could. Once he was home, he planned to tell their parents he would not be pursuing a career in accounting. He would work for a year while he looked for the right university to study history, perhaps even here in the United States, where he could be close to Janya.
She would miss him terribly, but already Rishi was talking about a trip to India for Holi, in March. Even if no one in her family except Yash welcomed them, the remaining members of Rishi’s family who had helped arrange their meeting would be happy to see them.
Janya got out and waited until they came around to join her. “You will remember the mural was painted by children? Some of the ideas they had were better than others.”
Rishi put his arm around her in that American way he had absorbed. Today she was less embarrassed than grateful. “We know how it came about, Janya, and we know that without you, the wall would still be blank. So please, no more squirming.”
“Squirming?”
“Yes, exactly. That’s what you are doing.”
“I’m worried, that’s all.”
“It’s her big debut,” Yash said. “The moment they applaud, my sister will be fine.”
Janya wasn’t certain she would be fine. The unveiling of the mural meant her work here was finished, and she had loved it. She had never been part of any project so large, but now her dreams had expanded. They were filled with wide walls and brilliant images to cover them. To stave off boredom she might fill the walls of the second bedroom in the cottage with a jungle scene. Tigers and elephants and foliage in a hundred shades of green. When she and Rishi had a son or a daughter to sleep there, the walls would provide endless entertainment.
As they entered the building, children enthusiastically greeted her, and Janya introduced them to Rishi and Yash. By the time they headed downstairs to the shuffleboard courts, she was resigned. Whatever the public thought, the children had loved painting the mural. For them, the project was already a success.
Outside, the atmosphere was festive. Picnic tables had been set up on the grounds beyond the pool, and a canopy sheltered the area where lunch was being sold and served. Janya was too nervous to eat, but the men went to buy sandwiches and drinks for themselves. More children flocked over to introduce her to their parents, and before long the time had arrived for the unveiling.
Janya saw Tracy conferring with several men and women in suits, including Woody. A loudspeaker system had been set up to the right of the mural, which was covered by curtains a mother had made from dark sheets. Woody began to speak, and the children pulled Janya forward. She saw Rishi and Yash approaching with their food, and she hoped the unveiling would end before they got there.
Woody did a short presentation, telling the story of how the idea for the mural had come about and crediting Tracy. Then he asked Tracy and Janya to come forward, something she hadn’t known would be expected. Everyone applauded politely, and she and Tracy smiled and waved before they disappeared back into the crowd. Then the mayor was introduced. Janya hadn’t known such an important person would make the final speech. Had she been able to sink into the ground,