Free Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun by Sarah Ladipo Manyika

tattoo-free boys?’
    I worry about Sunshine sometimes, in her family of men and boys. I like Ashok but I fear that Sunshine is too easily swayed by what he thinks and too eager to please him. I see some of my younger self in Sunshine and try to encourage her to have more of her own mind. But I also try not to be too overbearing.
    When Morayo asks me how I am, I tell her that I’m fine. ‘Although Ashok is still trying to persuade me to go back to school.’ I pause, hoping that Morayo will reassure me by saying that Ashok is wrong and that I shouldn’t feel pressured into going to grad school. But she doesn’t comment so I reluctantly return to talking about the boys. I tell her how Avi is coming along with his New Year’s ‘revolutions’, which makes her laugh. Then I talk about Zach, how he’s started rowing which means that three early mornings a week I drive him to Marin and back. I pull out my phone to share some recent photographs. Morayo, who must have also noticed me checking the time, tells me that I mustn’t feel obliged to stay. Feeling guilty, I insist that I’m not in a rush.
    ‘I know, darling,’ she says. ‘I’m just looking for an excuse to start reading all these lovely books you’ve brought for me.’ She winks then peers into the bag. ‘Auster and Angelou, that’s lovely, and these?’ she asks, looking quizzically at the others. ‘What are these? They look like Mills & Boon.’ She points to the boxed set.
    ‘You tell me,’ I smile, ‘I found them by your bed.’ I think that Morayo is only feigning surprise, but no, it seems that she really doesn’t recognize them.
    ‘Ahh,’ she says, after some moments. ‘These must have come from the house cleaner. Did you ever meet Tina? Bless her. She knew I liked books so she was always bringing me more, only not the sort that I liked to read. And then, of course, I could never get rid of them because she would’ve noticed. But now that you’ve brought them, perhaps I should read them. What do you reckon?’
    ‘You have a house cleaner?’
    ‘Oh, I used to, darling, long time ago. And I know. I know my place is a bit of a mess right now, but being here has given me time to think. It’s funny, you know, as you get older, you begin to see yourself becoming more like your parents. After my father retired I remember him staying at home, not wanting to do much but listen to his radio. He didn’t want to get rid of anything and so the house just got more and more cluttered. So you’re right, my house could probably use a good sort out and even a cleaner again, but I’ll get to it, I promise.’
    ‘Well, as a matter of fact, I’ve done some of that for you already.’
    ‘Oh Sunshine! You shouldn’t have!’
    ‘No, that’s okay. It’s just that there were a lot of things in the apartment that needed attention. Like there was a letter from the DMV, do you remember? A bunch of bills and also some bank transactions. Ashok and I got a little bit worried by one of them.’
    ‘Yes,’ Morayo interrupts. ‘I know what you must have seen. The payments to a certain charity which turned out to be an scam?’
    I nod, feeling relieved that at least she’s aware of it.
    ‘It was a silly mistake Sunshine, and although I’m embarrassed, I’m glad you now know. I’m actually relieved that you know. I should’ve been more careful, but I’mdealing with it now, darling. I’ve talked to the bank and it won’t happen again.’
    ‘Well there’s certainly no need to be embarrassed; God knows how many embarrassing things I’ve shared with you over the years. But you should have told us, we could have helped. Ashok deals with that sort of thing all the time.’
    ‘I know, Sunshine. It’s just that I’m usually so careful, but that particular email just got me. It didn’t have any of the usual hallmarks of scam mail – no funny spelling errors or formal salutations, so it never crossed my mind that this might be another prank. And you know