Chapter 7

It was the day after Gisele had moved in. Callie had already warmed up to her and was not as fussy as the first day. They were in the living room after Gisele had picked Callie up from school. She was now friends with the Indian driver who was teaching her Hindi.

Presently, Callie was telling her about her day at school, which made her start asking herself questions. Where was Callie’s mother? Gisele did not ask anything at the interview because she did not want to seem nosy. But now she was so curious.

Callie went on, oblivious to Gisele’s inner pondering. “...And then Sheila said I should push Lou and call herself a fat popotamus.”

“Did you do it, hon?” Gisele asked.

“No,” the kid replied proudly.

“That’s good,” was her reply. Then she ruffled Callie’s hair.

“Stop that,” Callie said. “I’m not a kid.”

“Oh, then what are you?&rd