Sweet Revenge

her head light. Still, she was eight, and her first thought was of food. She shrugged back into the dress she had worn in Paris and started downstairs.
    The apartment was much bigger than it had seemed to her the night before. Arching doorways led off the hallway. She was too hungry to explore, so went quietly downstairs, hoping to find fruit and bread.
    She heard people talking. A man and a woman. Then there was laughter, a great deal of it. The people were talking again, arguing, the woman in a high-pitched, nagging voice, the man in a strange sort of English. The more they talked, the more laughter Adrianne heard. Cautious, she crept toward the sound and found herself in Celeste’s kitchen.
    The room was empty, but there were still voices. Adrianne saw they were coming from a small box and in the box were little people. Enchanted, she walked over to touch the box. The people didn’t notice her, but went on arguing.
    Not people, Adrianne realized with a grin. Pictures of people, moving, talking pictures. That meant the people in the box were movie stars, like her mother. Forgetting food, she put her elbows on the counter and stared.
    “Just put everything over there. Oh, Adrianne, you’re up.”
    Adrianne straightened quickly, waiting to be scolded.
    “Good.” Celeste waited until the delivery boy set the bags on the counter. “Now I’ll have more company than
I Love Lucy”
She handed the boy some bills. “Thanks.”
    “Thank you, Miss Michaels.” He sent Adrianne a wink, and left.
    “Your mother’s still asleep, but I thought your stomach might wake you up. I’m afraid I had no idea what kind of things little girls like to eat, so I left it up to the grocer.” She pulled out a box of Rice Krispies. “Looks like a good start.”
    The television switched to a commercial with a blast of sound and color. Adrianne’s mouth fell open. The White Tornado whirled in to save a housewife from waxy yellow buildup.
    “Pretty amazing, huh?” Celeste dropped a hand on Adrianne’s shoulder. “You don’t have television in Jaquir?”
    Too impressed to speak, Adrianne merely shook her head.
    “Well, you can watch all you want for the next few days. There’s a bigger television in the other room. I keep this one in here to make my housekeeper happy. How about some breakfast?”
    “Please.”
    “Rice Krispies?”
    Adrianne eyed the box. There were funny little people on it in big white hats. “I like rice.”
    “This is a little different. I’ll show you.” At Celeste’s gesture Adrianne took a chair. From the table she could watch the television and Celeste at the same time. “First you pour it into a bowl. Then …” Enjoying herself, Celeste made a business out of pouring milk. “Now listen to it.” She wiggled her fingers at Adrianne. “Go ahead, put your ear down close.”
    “It hisses.”
    “Snaps, crackles, and pops,” Celeste corrected the child as she sprinkled on some sugar. “Hissing cereal wouldn’t go over very well. Give it a try.”
    Hesitantly, Adrianne dipped the spoon in. She couldn’t understand why anyone would want to eat food that made noise, but she was too well bred to be rude. She took a bite, then two, then rewarded Celeste with her first genuine smile. “It is good. Thank you. I like American rice.”
    “Rice Krispies.” Celeste ruffled her hair. “I think I might just have a bowl myself.”
    Of all her memories of her first days in America, thathour she spent with Celeste remained a favorite. It wasn’t so different from the harem. Celeste was a woman, and they spoke of women’s things. Shopping, the food she helped Celeste put away. There were things like butter made from peanuts and soup made out of letters. To her relief, there was also chocolate.
    Celeste was different, with her short golden hair and the pants she wore. Adrianne liked the way her voice rose and fell so gracefully, the way she used her hands and arms, and even her body, with the words.
    When Phoebe joined them, Adrianne was sitting primly on Celeste’s couch watching her first soap opera.
    “Lord, I don’t know when I’ve slept so long. Hello, baby.”
    “Mama.” Adrianne sprang up immediately to wrap her arms around Phoebe.
    Despite a pounding hangover, Phoebe gathered Adrianne close for a hug. “The best way to start a day.” Smiling, she drew back. “How did you start yours?”
    “I had Rice Krispies and watched television.”
    Celeste breezed in, trailing cigarette smoke