Aunt Josephine took the book in her hands. She began reading with passion in her voice. “ ‘Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me …’ ”
Hakiam swallowed hard and his eyes glazed over. This was what had driven him to avoid his aunt since he’d come to Philly. He had a low threshold for all this born-again stuff.
Malikia gave a random kick.
“ ‘But,’ ” Aunt Josephine continued with the quotation, “ ‘whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.’ ”
Hakiam’s eyes panned the rest of the room and stopped on a teddy bear that was on the nightstand. It was holding a single yellow rose.
Aunt Josephine pointed. “That’s from that nice-looking girl who came by yesterday afternoon. She said she knew Malikia through you. She said her name was—”
“Wendy.”
Malikia began to stir again.
“Is it okay to pick her up?” Hakiam asked.
His aunt nodded.
Hakiam walked over to the wooden crib and let down the gate. Malikia looked small and lost in the crisp white bedding. There were bandages over her head. The rest of her was swaddled, so he couldn’t tell if she had any more bandaging. She was very still but breathing steadily.
“Why don’t you stay here,” his aunt said, moving in beside him. She gently patted Malikia. “You can stay with me if you want. Leesa was by. She told me about the party and how you found Malikia. I told her not to blame you. I told her you saved her life. You did a good thing, Hakiam.”
“I’m just glad she’s going to be all right.”
At that very moment, Malikia burst into tears.
Hakiam sighed and said, “Well, baby, I guess you’re stuck with me again.”
43
Wendy was all dressed up in her favorite outfit: willow green roll-neck wool sweater, a long skirt with microdots, and low leather boots. She waved hello to Mr. Clayton, the guard, who was busy eating hot wings.
She hustled up the stairs to the center and saw a miraculous thing. The book was cracked open, and Hakiam was reading.
He looked up at her and they exchanged a deeper gaze.
She hooked her tote bag around the chair.
Late-afternoon sunlight illuminated the room.
“Well,” she said, sliding into the seat directly across from his. “We might as well get started.”
About the Author
A Philadelphia native and a Virgo, Allison Whittenberg studied dance for years before switching her focus to writing. She has a master’s degree in English from the University of Wisconsin. Her middle-grade novels about Charmaine Upshaw, Sweet Thang and Hollywood and Maine, are available from Yearling Books, and her first novel for teen readers, Life Is Fine, is available from Delacorte Press. Allison enjoys traveling, and she loves to hear from her readers. Visit her online at www.allisonwhittenberg.com.
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