House of Cool Air
He shifted uncomfortably on the rounded top of the thick wooden post. His bony bare feet almost covered it completely as he squatted on it, carefully keeping his balance. When his legs began to hurt from that position, he would sit down on the top of the post and let his legs dangle down the sides, but that was more uncomfortable. The top of the smoothly polished, dark brown post was a hard seat for someone who was not allowed clothes at home.
Across the big bedroom, the girls were experimenting with a makeup kit and brushing their hair in different ways. They stroked little brushes on brightly colored pallets and then brushed the colors on their faces.
“Here,” said Lena, who was thirteen. She wore a plaid outfit she called a jumper, that was mostly red and yellow. As
