Free Every Time a Rainbow Dies by Rita Williams-Garcia Page A

“I’ll ride with you.”
    â€œYou crazy? You’ll be late for your school.”
    The curtains opened. Tant Rosie stood behind the windows, but this time she did not close the curtains.
    He shrugged. So .
    â€œI leave too early for you.”
    â€œLike six-thirty?” he asked.
    â€œYes. Like six-thirty. And Tulani,” she said sternly, “I don’t like to wait. I wait, I’m gone.”
    â€œI’ll see you in the morning,” he said.
    She told him again that he was crazy.
    He waited for her to go inside, then listened for a slap or a scolding from the other side of the door. He heard nothing. Then he went home.

TEN
    Thulani set the alarm for six o’clock and stared at the peacocks’ eyes on his wall until they blurred into fireballs floating on a sea of plum wine.
    When the alarm went off, he showered, brushed his teeth, greased his hair, and examined his face to see what she would see. He had laid out his clothes the night before. He dressed, grabbed a spiral notebook, took two subway tokens from his nightstand, then ran out of the house.
    He was a block from Franklin when he stopped walking. His birds . He had not given a thought to freeing them, scattering cereal to feed them, or telling them his dreams. He had to unlatch the dovecote.
    Thulani turned and started back toward EasternParkway, but he stopped before he reached the end of the block. It was six-twenty. Forget the birds for now, he told himself. If he was late to Ysa’s house, she would leave. Think him inconsiderate. Not give him another chance.
    He ran down to Franklin and started to cross the street. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a figure in a bright-colored jacket, carrying a large black case and hurrying in the opposite direction. He called after her.
    â€œY-SAAA!”
    She didn’t turn around. He ran to catch up with her.
    â€œYsa.” He was out of breath, his heart pounding from making that dash, then pounding more from suddenly being with her.
    â€œOh, it’s you,” she said. “I looked for you and didn’t see you. I said, Good. I don’t need no one to slow me down.”
    â€œI’m here,” he said.
    â€œThat’s your business if you’re here or not. I didn’t ask you to come.”
    â€œDon’t be like that. I said I would come.”
    â€œWhat you want, applause? I’m late for school.”
    She pissed him off. He hadn’t jumped out of bed while the sun still napped to take this abuse. He was tempted to walk away, but got over this quickly and followed her to the train station.
    â€œLook, if you don’t want to see me”—what am I doing? he thought, but couldn’t stop himself—“I’ll leave you alone.” He could lose her, right here, right now.
    She swiped her student pass and went through the turnstile.
    â€œI don’t want to be looking out of the window to see if you’re coming. I don’t want to say, Where is he? Like I said, if I have to wait, I’m gone.”
    He dropped a subway token into the slot and pushed through the turnstile. “You said, ‘ like six-thirty.’ It’s not even six-thirty yet.” He surprised himself. He heard his own voice, strong like Truman’s when he argued with Shakira. He didn’t know where it came from, but it was there inside him.
    The bell rang for the outbound D train. She said, “My train,” and ran down to the platform. Pride held him where he stood, but only for a moment. He had already paid for the ride. He went after her.
    The train was pulling into the station. He was amazed to find the platform crowded with students and working people so early in the morning. She was easy to spot, in her colors. She was already standing at the edge of the platform before the car door. He pushed through the swarm gathered at the middle car where she stood and tapped her on the shoulder. The car door opened.Ysa