16
One Lump or Two
Auwi
What you say when it hurts.
“What?” Mom asked.
“Tea? Do you have tea? Mint, chamomile, lemon—any kine?”
“Mint. I’ll get it,” Jay said. “I know which cupboard.”
“Good, good!” said Uncle Kahana. “Brew a big pot! Make ’em strong, yeah? And Char Siu—”
“Yes, Uncle?”
“Find the big fishing cooler in the garage and drag it out here. We’re going to fill it with water from the hose and add some stuffs to it.”
She took off.
“What’s going on in that pupule head of yours, old man?” Mom asked.
“Liz, think about it! What’s mud?—Water and dirt. Look!” Uncle Kahana held out my arm. “Zader fell in a mud puddle and didn’t blister. You’re so busy worrying about how he’s going to get clean that you never asked the right question!”
“No blisters?”
She grabbed my other hand a
