Free Bitter Winds by Kay Bratt Page A

voice even for her sister. “Lily, the bus is full. We’ll have to stand.” She guided Lily’s free hand to a handgrip hanging from the ceiling. “Here, let me hold your cane.” Lily handed her the cane and Ivy juggled the violin case as she folded the cane and tucked it under her arm.
    “Hold on to the back of this seat with your other hand.” She ignored the look of disgust the guy in the seat shot at them and held back the urge to tell him her sister wasn’t contagious. Instead she put Lily’s hand securely on the headrest behind his neck just as the bus driver stomped on the gas, almost throwing both of them off their feet before they caught their balance.
    Lily laughed but Ivy didn’t. She bit her lip to keep herself from going up and knocking the driver upside his head for his careless driving.
    The passenger who’d given them the disgusted look was now staring rudely at Lily. “So, can they fix her eyes?” he asked.
    Ivy felt the heat rush up her neck.
    “Um . . . my eyes are—,” Lily started to answer, but Ivy put her hand on her shoulder and interrupted, directing her anger at the stranger.
    “Forget about her. What about you? They might be able to fix her eyes someday, but you’re out of luck because they can’t fix stupid.” Ivy glared at the man, daring him to say another word. Luckily he looked away.
    Lily leaned her head toward Ivy. “You don’t have to get so worked up, Ivy. It really doesn’t bother me.”
    Ivy didn’t trust herself to answer. Some people were so inconsiderate. And stupid.
    A few stops later and finally the bus pulled up in front of the pavilion.
    “We’re here,” Ivy said, and put her arm out for Lily to grab.
    Together they got off the bus and Ivy led the way to the gates. All around them music blared and people crowded together, slowly moving through the many stands of foods and collectibles.
    “I smell some good street food. Mmmm . . . is that turnip dumplings?” Lily said, shuffling along. She put her nose higher into the air and sniffed. “I can smell all the different treats, but tell me what you see.”
    Ivy looked at her sister and saw the smile on her face. She couldn’t believe she wasn’t overwhelmed. It was crowded, loud, and hot. But Lily was enjoying it! Her sister was nuts. She sighed. “I see too many people—that’s what I see.”
    Lily laughed. “What else, grumpy?”
    “Besides the hordes of people, there are vendor stands selling everything. Cricket cages, hand-carved whistles, stick candy—oh, there’s a woman over there selling sunglasses.” Ivy turned her sister in that direction. “Come on, we’re getting you a pair.”
    Ivy hurried Lily over to the table and picked up a pair of knockoff Ray-Bans.
    “How much?” she asked the vendor, a small woman wearing a huge red apron and a wide-brimmed straw hat to keep the sun off her face. The woman stood behind the table, straightening the rows of sunglasses.
    “Fifty reminbi.”
    “Tai gui le,” Ivy said. “These aren’t even real!” She wasn’t paying that, but she hoped the woman would come down to something she could afford. She was tired of all the stares Lily’s blank eyes attracted. They’d never needed to shield her eyes before, but now that they were venturing out more every day, Ivy wanted her to have some privacy.
    “You say how much.” The woman put her hands on her hips, starting the bartering game.
    “Fifteen,” Ivy answered.
    “Just forget it, Ivy. I don’t need them,” Lily whispered to her.
    Ivy felt a rush of irritation. Leave it to Lily to wimp out. Her sister hated conflict, even if it was only a means of negotiation. Ivy thought briefly about the story their Ye Ye always told them when they asked how he’d chosen their names. He’d chosen her name because she was strong and stubborn like the vines growing on the side of their home. But Lily was named for her delicate and quiet nature, just like a lily swaying in the wind. She had to admit,