“Really? She never said anything about it.”
Nanu chuckles. “Yes, she wasn’t very patient, Jannu. Not like you. She was great at it, but she couldn’t get all of the precise details right because she would rush. She got bored very easily. After she married your Abbu and moved over there … well, I guess she didn’t really have anyone to practice on for a long time. She lost interest and forgot about it.”
I feel a pang of sadness at that thought. I imagine if Ammu had kept it up; maybe Priti and I would be experts. Maybe it would be a proper family tradition. Maybe we would already have notebooks full of original designs.
I try not to dwell on it too much as I say my goodbyes to Nanu.
9
AT THE LOCKERS THE NEXT MORNING, CHAEWON ANDJESSarestilldiscussing their ideas, which makes me all the more nervous about telling themmyidea. They’ve already cycled through so much.
“You know, I was thinking …” I start, interrupting their argument about whether or not people will pay good money for Jess to draw chibi art of video game characters (Chaewon says no, but Jess insists yes). “Priti and I were brainstorming, and we came up with the idea of setting up a henna business.”
“A henna business …” Jess repeats, like she’s trying to wrap her head around it.
“You know, like …” I wave my henna-laden hands around in front of their faces.
“Youdid this?” Chaewon grabs hold of one of my hands and inspects my palm. Her fingers run up and down the deep red vines sprouting leaves and flowers, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Why didn’t you say so?” Jess looks impressed too as she edges closer to Chaewon and peers down at my hands like it’s the first time she’s seen them.
I shrug, pulling my hands away and feeling a blush rise up my cheeks.
“I didn’t know you were such an artist,” Jess says.
“I was just practicing over the summer. You know, for that wedding?”
“People would definitely be into this.” Chaewon begins to nod so fast that she looks a little like a bobblehead. “I mean, peoplelovethis stuff and you’re so good.”
“Thanks. Jess?”
Jess gives me a nervous smile that makes my stomach drop.
“Don’t get me wrong, your work is beautiful,” she starts.
“Stunning,” Chaewon adds.
“But … we don’t know how to do henna. What part would we play in this?”
“The business part? Like … pricing, advertisement, all of that good stuff.”
“Wouldn’t that be unfair to you? You have to do all of the hard work?” Chaewon says, but I suspect that’s not what she’s worried about.
“I don’t mind. No matter what we do, we’re all going to have our different roles, right?”
“Right.”
“That’s true.”
Chaewon and Jess exchange a look.
“I think we should do it,” Chaewon says finally with an encouraging smile toward Jess. “It’s unique. We might actually have a good shot of winning.”
I grin at Chaewon like she is my favorite person in the world. Right now, she is.
“Hey,” Flávia greets me with a smile during lunchtime, taking a seat opposite me. Chyna takes the empty seat beside her, looking unhappy about being seen with me. She shoots me a smile that resembles a grimace.
“You know my cousin, Chyna?” Flávia says.
