[15: “Two or three things I know for sure”]

The house looked new and tidy when they pulled up, little stubby eaves high up on the two-story building, not the low, moody eyebrows of old cottages and the rambling estates, but tidy town construction when the little village grew after the war, the veterans coming home to start families.

Meera watched Sama quietly. She didn’t move right away, just watched the house. Finally she opened the truck’s door and slid to the ground.

Meera followed her out, and took the suitcase from the bed of the truck. The door of the house opened, and a woman stood on the stoop.

“Hello, dear! You must be Sama, and Meera, and you must be Dick! I’m Cherrie. Come on in, you must be exhausted, all this change, but no worry, there’s plenty of space here to get you fixed up. Let’s get you to your room, Sama, and a meal and get you all settled?”

Cherrie kept talking as Meera and Dick exchanged glances.

“And there’s a place for your things at the top of the stairs, and you’ll have to share a bedroom for this week since we’re re-painting the other room, but I’ve a daughter your age and she’ll be delighted to meet you. Do you want to come in?”

Meera started to giggle and had to stifle it. Sama looked up at her sister earnestly for a moment. “I do. Let me get my things.”

Sama took the suitcase from Meera and followed Cherrie up to the house. 

“Come on, all three of you! No need to dawdle! Let me at least make you tea. You can see where your sister is going to stay, young lady. You needn’t worry!”