Radiant - By Christina Daley Page 0,33

I mean, not that I don't want to." She took a deep breath. "But why?"

He smiled. "I like being around you."

"Other than at school?"

"Let me rephrase. I like being with you."

More excuses came to mind.

"Your silence is difficult to interpret," he said.

"Sorry, I'm just thinking of what I have to do. I was thinking of—" cleaning out the fridge. "Or, I think I have to—" refinish the kitchen cabinets. "What I mean is, I was planning to—" soundproof the ceiling against the little monsters and their obnoxious video games. Actually, that was a pretty good idea.

She sighed. "Never mind. Saturday's fine."

"Is that a yes?" he asked.

She chuckled. "Yes."

He beamed. "I will meet you here at seven o'clock."

"Sounds good," she said.

"Good night, Mary."

"Night, Carter."

She watched him walk down the street and disappear around the corner. Then she rocketed up to the apartment and looked online for the meteor shower. It was scheduled for 11:28 that evening with high visibility from North America. That gave her plenty of time to clean the dishes in the sink and take some laundry down to the machines. Mary then went to her room for her telescope, since she wanted to look at some of the planets in between watching the meteoroids. She also grabbed a jacket, since it was still a little cool outside.

As she rummaged through her closet, her hand found the pink áo dài. She pulled it out and unzipped its protective garment bag.

Ba had been one of the luckier ones when she fled Saigon. She had enough time to pack a few belongings, and she didn't have to spend any time in a refugee camp. Mary heard stories of how some people had nothing when they left, and how women were raped in the camps and on boats as they were trying to get to safety. Others, like Ba's family, didn't make it out at all when the Americans pulled out.

This pink dress was one of the few things that survived the trip to France and then to the States. It had traveled farther than Mary had in her life. That was the biggest reason why she kept it hidden in her closet. She didn't wear many dresses, but this was one of the few pieces linking her to her past. One day, when Ba passed away, it would be the only thing.

Mary zipped the garment bag shut and tucked the áo dài back into its safe place. Then she grabbed her telescope and headed for the roof.

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- 14 -

Epiphany

"Mary? Sweetie, wake up."

Mary slowly opened her eyes.

Mom smiled. "Good morning."

Mary blinked. She noted the lack of a ceiling over her and the absence of a bed under her. She was still on the roof.

"Oh crap!"

"Whoa, whoa!" Mom said. "It's all right! You're not late. You still have time to get ready before school."

Mary stared at her for a moment. Then she slumped back onto the lounge chair.

"Star gazing again?" Mom asked.

"There was a meteor shower," Mary said. "I was just going to watch it a little bit, but I must've fallen asleep."

"Not the first time," Mom said. "How was the art show?"

"It was great!" Mary described Ben's sculpture, as well as some of the other works there. "It was really something. I wish you could've come."

"I'll try to catch the next one," Mom said. "Did you go shopping, too?"

"Shopping?" Mary asked. "No, because Ba and I went a few days ago. I already returned the stuff like usual. Is there something wrong with the bank statement?"

"No," she said. "But I found this in your room."

Mom held up Carter's black sweater.

Mary didn't say anything. She had forgotten to give it back to him. When she got home last night, she had left it lying on her bed.

"Who's is it?" Mom asked.

Mary reached for it. "No one's."

Mom snatched it back. "Who's. Is. It."

The stern look in her eyes made Mary feel like she was six years old again. She folded her hands in her lap. "Carter's."

"Maxwell?"

She nodded. "He went with me and Ba yesterday. He wasn't doing anything and we had the extra ticket, so I asked if he wanted to come."

"Mary," Mom started, "I know we've talked about guys before."

Mary sighed and jumped up from the lounge chair. She grabbed her scope and headed for the door.

"I'm just saying that I made a lot of mistakes when I was young," Mom said. "And I don't want you to get hurt."

"Mom, I'm not going to make out with a guy