Blue Smoke

sandwiches. For once there was no arguing in the kitchen between the sisters. Bella wept steadily throughout the process, but Fran didn’t slap at her for it. And when Xander said he’d carry one of the pitchers, no one told him he was too small.
    There was a stink in the air now, one she would always remember, and the smoke hung like a dirty curtain. But they set up a folding table on the sidewalk for the coffee, the tea, the sandwiches. Passed out cups and bread to grimy hands.
    Some of the neighbors had gone back home, out of the smoke and stink, out of the drifting ash that settled on cars and ground in a thin, dirty snow. There was no brilliant light now, and even from a distance Reena could see the blackened brick, the rivers of wet soot, the gaping holes that had been windows.
    The pots of flowers she’d helped her mother plant in the spring to sit on the white steps lay broken, trampled, dead.
    Her parents stood in the street outside Sirico’s, their hands locked, her father in the jeans he’d grabbed when she woke him, her mother in the bright red robe she’d gotten for her birthday only last month.
    Even when the big trucks drove away, they stood together.
    One of the men in a fireman’s helmet walked over to speak to them, and they spoke for what seemed a long time. Then her parents turned away, still hand in hand, and walked toward home.
    The man walked toward the ruin of Sirico’s. He switched on a flashlight and went into the dark.
    Together, they carried the leftover food and drink back inside. Reena thought they all looked like survivors in those war movies, dirty hair, tired faces. When the food was put away, her mother asked if anyone wanted to sleep.
    Bella started to sob again. “How can we sleep? What are we going to do?”

    “What comes next. If you don’t want to sleep, go clean up. I’ll fix breakfast. Go. We’ll think better when we’re clean and have some food.”
    Being third in line in age meant Reena was always third in line for the bathroom. She waited until she heard Fran come out and Bella go in. Then she slipped out of her room to knock on her parents’ bedroom door.
    Her father had washed his hair, and it was still wet. He’d changed into clean jeans and a shirt. His face looked the way it did when he got sick with the flu.
    “Your sisters hogging the bathroom?” He smiled a little, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You can use ours this time.”
    “Where’s your brother, Reena?” her mother asked.
    “He fell asleep on the floor.”
    “Oh.” She pulled her damp hair back into a band. “That’s all right. Go, have your shower. I’ll get you clean clothes.”
    “Why did the fireman go in when the others went away?”
    “He’s an inspector,” her father told her. “He’ll try to find out why it happened. They got here faster than they would have if you hadn’t seen it. Pete and his family are safe, and that’s most important. What were you doing up so late, Reena?”
    “I—” She felt the flush heat up the back of her neck as she remembered her period. “I need to just tell Mama.”
    “I won’t be mad.”
    She stared down at her toes. “Please. It’s private.”
    “Can you go start some sausage, Gib?” Bianca said casually. “I’ll be down soon.”
    “Fine. Fine.” He pressed his hands to his eyes. Then he dropped them, looked at Reena again. “I won’t be mad,” he repeated, and left them alone.
    “What is it you can’t tell your father? Why would you hurt his feelings at a time like this?”
    “I didn’t mean . . . I woke up because I—My stomach hurt.”
    “Are you sick?” Bianca turned, laid a hand on Reena’s forehead.

    “I started my period.”
    “Oh. Oh, baby girl.” Bianca drew her in, held her hard. Then began to weep.
    “Don’t cry, Mama.”
    “Just for a minute. So much, all at once. My little Catarina. So much loss, so much change. My bambina. ” She eased back. “You changed tonight, and because you did, you saved lives. We’ll be grateful for what was saved, and we’ll deal with what was lost. I’m very proud of you.”
    She kissed Reena on both cheeks. “Does your tummy still hurt?” When Reena nodded, Bianca kissed her again. “You’ll take a shower, then a nice warm bath in my tub. It’ll make you feel better. Do you need to ask me anything?”
    “I knew what to do.”
    Her mother smiled, but there was something sad in her eyes. “Then you take your shower, and I’ll help