got one call home when they busted us. Mom screamed, ‘This is the final straw!’ I don’t know what she was so uptight about. It wasn’t my fault.”
I just nodded. I would have liked to put my hands around her throat. Instead, I paid the bill for the food and we left.
That night Rita wanted to stay up late. I had to teach the next day, so I loaned her my car.
“Careful,” I said as I handed her the keys. Why did I have to say that? It sounded so square. I sounded like our mother—but, after all, it was my car and Rita had been known to take Mom’s car, run out of gas, and then just abandon it at the roadside.
Rita’s eyes glazed over as she took the keys. “Sure.”
Maybe I should go with her, I thought. It’s her first night here, she just got out of jail. But Rita grabbed her coat and in a flash was out the door.
I went in the bathroom to brush my teeth. I looked in the mirror. Rita and I looked alike, but my nose was bigger. Her chin was wider. She was three inches taller. I don’t know how that was possible. After all, she was the little sister.
Hey, cut that out, I said to myself. No big, no little. We’re both in our twenties.
I squeezed co-op mint toothpaste onto my gold toothbrush.
Happiness knocked at the door. “Come in,” I called, and put the brush in my mouth.
We both stood facing the mirror. “So that’s your sister, huh?”
I nodded, my mouth full of paste.
“You look alike, but you’re different. I mean, I don’t know, she seems tough.”
I spat out the paste and turned my head to face her. “You only met her for a minute.”
“It feels like she’s casing the joint or something, and she doesn’t look you in the eye.” Happiness paused awkwardly. “But hey, Banana, what do I know?”
I just nodded. I didn’t want to get into it. I pulled out a long piece of floss and leaned close to the mirror. “Look at this pimple,” I said. “It’s almost ready to squeeze.”
The next day, Rita and I walked into town. My right back tire was flat when I went out to get in the car. Rita swore she didn’t know how it happened. She said the car had been fine when she left it in the drive at one in the morning. Luckily, I didn’t have to be at school until ten that day.
“Well, Nelly, here we are. Riteey and her sissy. Just the two of us.” She took my hand and swung it, like a schoolgirl. “I’m glad I’m coming with you. I’d get bored at that commune. You don’t have a phone, a TV, or music. I don’t know how you live that way.”
We were walking along a narrow two-way road. Taos Mountain wore a necklace of clouds, with the blue peak high above them.
“Gee, Riteey, since you’re my sissy, will you fix the tire while I’m at school? Then you can drive and pick me up afterward. Doc’s Automotive is near Red Willow.” I was feeling better. I wasn’t taking all the responsibility. “And then we’ll have some time together. I can show you some of my paintings, and maybe you can even pose for one.”
“I never changed a flat tire before. I don’t know, Nell. Don’t you have a friend?” she whined.
“Nope, no friends.” I was beginning to enjoy myself. “You have five hours to do it. I’m sure you can figure something out. Right, sissy?” I ruffled her hair.
The sky was so blue, so beautiful. I thought of pointing it out, but I declined. I bet Rita could find something wrong with it. It wasn’t L.A. or New York. It had no pollution; it wasn’t gray; it didn’t smell; it was too big; it was a waste of space.
Just then, Neon pulled up behind us in his electric pink jeep. He had a yellow rubber chicken dangling from his rearview mirror.
“Hey, Banana, need a ride?” He stuck his head out the window, all shaggy with curls like a lion’s. His head was too big for his body, he had narrow shoulders and a small chest.
Rita lit up. “Yeah!” she cried, and ran to the passenger seat. The old jeep jangled and jumped and chugged even in idle. We had to