A Step from Heaven Read Online Free Page A

I said? I do not want to grovel anymore like some bitch. What is saving more money going to do? What?Get you a fancy house? Is that what you want? I cannot provide you with enough?
    No, I do not mean that, Uhmma says quietly. She keeps her hands on her stomach. Round and round.
    Tap, tap. Apa puts the cigarette in his mouth. Takes a sip and then blows out smoke. He faces out to the house and growls, You always want more. Better.
    Apa’s voice changes. Write to your sister, he says in a squeaky-mouse voice. Let us move to Mi Gook. We will have a better life.
    Apa turns and faces Uhmma. He points to her stomach. Look at us now. This is all your fault. You hear me? Your fault I had to take a second job picking up those lawyers’ trash like some beggar. In Korea at least I had my own boat. What was so bad about that life?
    Yuhboh, Yuhboh, Uhmma says. She uses her special husband word to make him stop. Try to make him be nice. I crawl up into the corner of the back seat. I keep my eyes on Uhmma’s perfect half-moon face.
    I told you it is not forever, Apa says. Smoke fills the car and then floats away with the wind.
    Yuhboh, I understand, Uhmma says. You must do what is best.
    Apa leans his arm on the car door, his elbow sticking out the window. He says quietly, We will pay rent for now and try to save slowly for our own house.
    Uhmma rolls down her window and sighs.
    Apa’s head, snap, turns to her. Yah, he says. What are you sighing about? What? I told you it is not forever.
    Uhmma keeps her face looking out the window. Rubs her stomach. Round and round. She does not answer.
    Apa sticks his cigarette out the window. Tap, tap. He says again, We will save slowly.
    But, Uhmma says to her stomach and then stops. She reaches up and pats her cheek with one hand. Uhmma starts again, If we stayed with Gomo we could save more quickly. If I worked two jobs and we did not have to pay rent, we could save enough money for a down payment in no time.
    I do not see Apa’s hand. It is too fast. I only hear the slap, loud as breaking glass.
    I bite my bottom lip. Hard. I cannot cry. It will only make it worse. I close my eyes and start to pray, Please, God, please make everything better.
    What did I say, Apa yells. Slap.
    I open my eyes and look at Uhmma. She covers her lip with her hand. A little blood comes out from between her fingers. My tears are falling onto my knees. I hold my breath so I will not cry out. Say letters in my head, A B C D E F G.
    What did I say? Apa asks Uhmma.
    Uhmma looks straight at the house, her hand covering her lip. She does not answer. Apa leans close to Uhmma. Face to face. His eyes squint thin as paper. He takes the used-up cigarette from his lips and holds it between his thumb and finger.
    Please, Uhmma, I say in my head. Please say it. Please. Please. Please.
    Uhmma takes away her hand. Blood drips down her chin. Her lips are broken grapes. She says with her eyes closed, It is not forever.

Park Joon Ho
    Gomo said she would play with me when she came over to our new house that is not really our house, just the one we are borrowing for now, but Gomo only wants to look at baby things. Gomo holds all the baby things in her hands and sits down on the yellow blanket that covers the couch. I peek and make sure the blanket did not get messed up. Uhmma said it is my job to make sure the blanket always covers the cushions so no one will see the burn holes the old owner made.
    I sit on the couch next to Gomo and kick out my feet. I am tired of waiting. I am tired of naps in the afternoon because it is too hot to play outside. I wish school would start so I can be in the second grade. In the second grade, you can buy your lunch if you bring money to school. John Chuchurelli told me. He knows because he has a big sister in third grade. I kick out my feet and stare at the white bows on my shoes. I want to rip them off, stupid baby feet, but Uhmma said Gomo would be sad if I messed up the special birthday