The Time Keepers

Chapter 34

CHAPTER 34

G RACE FELT SHE HAD A NEW SENSE OF PURPOSE EVER SINCE SHE started visiting the motherhouse and tutoring there once a week. And for the first time since she’d become a parent, she’d even discovered the positive impact of television. She could see how B?o was learning English far more quickly than many of the others because of his obsession with watching Saturday-morning cartoons.

“The middle school is arranging for a proper ESL teacher to start coming by soon,” Sister Mary Alice updated Grace. “We’re hoping the children will be able to start there in September, and the ESL will help bring them up to grade level. It’s more the adults we don’t want left behind.” She looked at Grace. “So, I was hoping you could help Anh more with her conversational English. She’s the one we’re all concerned about, since she’ll basically be a single mother to B?o once the official adoption gets worked out. She’ll have to go out into the work world to support the two of them.”

“Of course,” Grace said. “But I’m thinking it might be better to make things a little more hands-on for her. Maybe I could take her out for the day … like a trip to the grocery store so she could learn how one asks for things or hear a typical exchange with the cashier. You know, simple exchanges … but stuff we all have to do during our day.”

“An excellent idea!” Sister Mary Alice chirped. Soon Grace found herself with a weekly appointment with Anh. Every Tuesday, she’d remind Katie that Molly would be at the pool club with the Connor family, but that she should routinely check on her younger sister when she was not perched on her lifeguard tower. Katie reluctantly agreed.

In the beginning, Anh remained quiet as she shadowed Grace in her daily errands, merely nodding as Grace went about her routine.

“Do you have change for a ten-dollar bill?” Grace asked the cashier when she went to pay for her items. She wanted Anh to hear the conversation so that soon she’d have the confidence to do it on her own.

The next time they were scheduled to go out together, Grace found Anh waiting in the common room, all dressed up for their excursion. Anh was wearing a yellow cotton sundress with little white daisies embroidered into the fabric that Grace had given her along with some other hand-me-downs from her closet. The dress, which was one of many that now no longer fit Grace, had once been one of her favorites, one she wore before she became pregnant with Katie. Now when she saw it on the younger Anh, she could hardly believe she’d ever been that thin. Had her waist really ever been that small?

“You look lovely, Anh. The yellow color really suits you.”

“Thank you.” Her eyes traveled over to her nephew, who was watching TV. “Okay if B?o come today too?”

Grace was mad at herself. She’d been meaning to figure out a way to include B?o on their excursions. It was on her list to see if she could take him and Anh to swim at the beach club.

“Of course. I should have thought of it myself. Molly has been asking if he can come to the beach club and go swimming. But today, let’s all just go to the store.”

Anh took the grocery list and focused on the items that Grace had carefully written in large, clear letters:

Eggs

Butter

Bread

Milk

Potato salad

“Let’s see if you can find these things,” Grace suggested as she lifted one of the plastic caddies and handed it to Anh. “If you can’t find one of them, then you can ask him.…” She pointed to Karl, who was stocking the shelves with canned goods. “Okay?”

Anh nodded and looked at B?o. “You help too,” she said, practicing her English.

His eyes traveled across the shelves. Instead of answering, he dug his hands into the pockets of his shorts and shrugged.

“Well, okay, but stay close to us,” Grace said.

The two women walked toward the deli counter. Behind the glass case, bowls of macaroni and potato salads, coleslaw, and bean salad were lined up in neat rows.

Fred smoothed his hands on his butcher’s apron. “I see we have a new customer this morning.”

“Yes, we do.” Grace smiled. “Anh is practicing her English today. Just like I needed to practice speaking American when I first got here.”

“Ah, yes.” Fred laughed. “That brogue of yours still gets me confused every now and then. How can I help you ladies?”

Grace reached over and gently touched Anh’s shoulder. “Go ahead,” she said, when suddenly she heard a commotion coming from near the store’s entrance.

“Hey, kid, put that back—you can’t just take things,” the cashier shouted.

“You little thief,” another woman added. “We pay for things here in America.”

Grace would recognize that voice anywhere.

It was Adele.

“I saw him steal it with my own two eyes!” Adele was standing next to B?o, holding on to his wrist tightly. Her pink painted nails pressed into his skin, just above his scar.

“Let go of him,” Grace said. “What is exactly going on here?”

“The boy took a Hershey’s bar from the counter without paying.…”

Grace glared at Adele. “Please let go of him. He’s with me.”

Anh stood next to Grace, her fingers still clutching the shopping list. “Miss—B?o good boy,” she said to Adele. She reached into her purse for one of the bills she’d received from the Sisters. “Please … take … here.” Her hand shook as she walked to the counter, put the money down, and pulled B?o away from Adele.

“This is just a misunderstanding,” Grace said, glaring at Adele. “I’m sure B?o was going to put it with the rest of our groceries.”

“Ma’am, he put it in his pocket. He was shoplifting.” The cashier’s chewing gum snapped like taffy in her mouth. “Mr. Kepler’s noticed a lot of stuff’s gone missing off the shelves lately.”

“Well, if it has, it’s not because of him,” Grace protested. “Today’s the first time he’s even been to this store.”

Fred came out behind the deli counter to try to sort everything out.

“What’s all the commotion about? Mrs. Golden was just in the back ordering some cold cuts with her friend here.”

“Well, her friend should keep a better eye on her boy,” Adele cut in.

Fred handed Grace the wrapped deli meat wrapped. “Let’s all try to remain civil.” His voice was measured. “It was actually on my fingertips to call you.” His eyes met Adele’s. “I saw your Buddy the other day with his friend. They were in the back trying to sneak out a couple beers.”

“I find that hard to believe, Fred. You know my Buddy would never do something like that.”

Fred turned to the cashier. “Tammy, you remember those two boys here the other day trying to nab some Pabst Blue Ribbons?”

“Yes,” she said as she looked down at her fingers. “I do remember something like that.”

“It must have been the other boy, then,” Adele protested. “Anyway, Fred, I need some bologna and cheese. Can you help me with that, please?” She clutched her purse tightly to her side as she walked past Grace and Anh.

“We’ll pay for this and the chocolate bar,” Grace said, stepping up to the counter.

When they got outside, Anh began to apologize.

“He say his father told him before we left … Americans give chocolate bars for free.”

Grace felt a lump in her throat. She had a memory of Jack once telling her about an incident involving a chocolate bar the GIs handed out.

“Here,” she said, handing the candy bar to B?o. “Better eat it before you get in the warm car.” She pinched her fingers together. “Gets too hot, it’ll melt all over your hands.”