6
Bus Ride
‘Uku
Louse; flea.
I hate school. First days are the worst.
The collar on my Ridgemont Academy shirt itched. I wanted to scratch it, but if I scratched too much, kids might think I have ‘ukus—just one more thing for them to tease me about.
Like they needed one.
Jay stood a little bit away from me, shave ice cool with his backpack over one shoulder and only one side of his blue uniform shirt half-tucked into his khaki cargo shorts. Char Siu was dancing from foot to foot, too excited to stand still.
Lisa Ling jumped out of her dad’s Lexus and ran over to Jay.
“I’m sorry to hear about Uncle Kahana, Jay.” She put her hand on his arm. “How’s he doing?”
Jay shrugged and gave me side-eye.
Char Siu said, “He’s still in the hospital, but getting better.”
The older Ridgemont Ac
