Broken Promises

The door to Mama Nina and Sparrow’s cabin stood open. Mama worked inside, sorting Qwè berries onto little squares of paper. Her back was to the door, but she sensed Sparrow peeking in at her.

“Was it a short day at school?” Mama placed three berries on each piece of paper, then she folded the corners inward to close the packet.

“More berries? Did you go alone to collect them?” Sparrow regretted leaving with Clara. Now she had more secrets about the ships, about seeing Papa, and about the pink frock.

“Not alone. I talked to Grandma Masagawa all day.” Sometimes, Mama had mystical spells, during which she imagined receiving advice from dead family members. And, somehow, her mysterious dreams often predicted the future. “We talked about you. She also said we must visit my brothers up north at Sutter’s mill.”

“I was helping Clara get ready for her party.” Sparrow stood alongside her mother and looked down at the berries. Nina now placed five berries, a lethal dose, on the remaining pieces of paper. “Five is too many, Mama.”

“Some bad people need five—one dangerous man, in particular.”

“Mama, don’t say that!” Sparrow reached toward the Qwè berries in alarm.

“No, I do not mean your papa, even though he has broken his promises to us. I speak of another man. My head aches, and I have bad dreams about this wicked man, an American who beats my brothers, Pedro and Flaco. I see them in a dark place, and they write your name. We will visit them soon.”

“After the party, I will go with you.” In the meantime, Sparrow dared not bother Mama with her own worries.

“I dreamed a deer and her baby are chased by a hungry bear,” Mama Nina said, turning to Sparrow. “But they stay safe, together. Like us.”

“Of course we are safe together, and we have friends,” Sparrow said.