The Paper House Read Online Free PDF Page B

family.” Cucu scrabbled in her pocket for her rag. She wiped her mouth. “I met Rasul the other day. Blade as he calls himself.”
    â€œRasul,” said Mrs. Pakua quietly and firmly. “His name is Rasul.”
    Cucu struggled to stand. “Thank you for your help. But as you can see, my Saffy will take good care of her old cucu.”
    â€œPerhaps you need more help than she can provide,” Mrs. Pakua said. She quickly added, “It may not yet be safe for you to return to your own home.”
    â€œCucu,” begged Safiyah. “You should go to the clinic. Your coughing…”
    â€œIt is nothing,” said Cucu.
    â€œCucu!” Safiyah’s voice was so loud that the crowd of people filling Mr. Zuma’s shop turned to stare.
    Safiyah bent closer to her grandmother. “You are sick.” Her chin trembled as she searched for the right words. “If you get more sick…if you die, I will have no one.” Mrs. Pakua’s warm hand on the back of her neck gave her the courage to go on. “I can’t take care of everything.” She leaned against her grandmother. “Please, Cucu,” she begged. She tried to swallow the tears that rose in her throat. “I want you to be well so you can look after me. ”
    Tears ran down the long creases of her grandmother’s face as she nodded slowly. “Of course you do, my child. Of course you do.” Cucu wiped her own face with her rag, then dabbed at Safiyah’s tears. She looked closely at Safiyah, her eyes shimmering. She turned to Mrs. Pakua. “I would be very grateful for your help.”
    Safiyah leaned against her grandmother and felt her thin arms hold her tight.
    â€œMr. Zuma will let you rest here a little longer, I am sure,” Rasul’s mother said. “I will find someone to bring you tea. And as soon as I have seen what arrangements can be made for your care, I will return.”
    For just a moment, in her brightly colored kitenge , Mrs. Pakua reminded Safiyah of her mother who, a long time ago and far from here, had stood in the doorway of their village house waiting for Safiyah to come home.
    Rasul’s mother lifted her hand and waved. “I won’t be long,” she called. Then she was gone.

Chapter Twelve
    For more than a week, Safiyah hardly left the clinic. It was a noisy and busy place. The nurses and doctors were kind. And tucked against Cucu’s side at night, Safiyah was able to stop worrying so much about her grandmother. Once the nurses reassured her that Cucu would be treated for free, Safiyah relaxed, and enjoyed watching everything going on around them.
    While her grandmother spent long hours sleeping, Safiyah studied the doctors hurrying between patients and discussing their care. She got to know many of the other families and played with small children who got bored sitting on their mother’s laps. She fetched water and folded blankets. She cooled hot faces with damp cloths. She held basins of water while the nurses cleaned wounds.
    When a doctor let her wear his stethoscope around her neck for a little while, she thought that perhaps she might grow up to work in a clinic.
    Mrs. Pakua came to see Cucu every evening after work, and Chidi sometimes came on his way home from school. But he was soon sent away for getting in the way. When Safiyah asked if Rasul might come to visit, his mother simply said he was busy.
    Each day Cucu’s cough got a little better. She began to sleep less and soon there was no blood in the white bowl that Safiyah emptied each morning.
    One afternoon her grandmother patted the blanket. “Come here.”
    Safiyah cuddled up close.
    â€œI’ve watched you,” said Cucu. “So helpful. Now can you do something for me?”
    Safiyah jumped to her feet. “Shall I tidy your bed?”
    â€œI am quite comfortable.” Cucu patted Safiyah’s arm. “But I worry about our