No Ordinary Day Read Online Free Page A

asked. “I have enough trouble with the police.”
    “I climbed on the back of their coal truck,” I said. “They didn’t know. I wanted to get away from Jharia.”
    “Wanted the bright lights of the big city, did you? Looks like you brought Jharia with you.” She stared at me some more. “What were you doing in Jharia?”
    “Picking up coal,” I said. “That’s all there is to do. But I can read and write and I can speak a little English.” I started to recite the English alphabet, to impress her. I was prepared to go on to Bible verses if necessary. The bicycle teacher had taught us a few of them.
    Mrs. Mukerjee waved me to a stop after the letter j.
    “And where are your parents?”
    “Dead,” I said, even though I didn’t know about my father. “I was living with my aunt but she turned out not to be my aunt, so I left.”
    She bent down and stared at me, eyeball to eyeball.
    “I don’t like liars.”
    I didn’t even blink. “Neither do I.”
    She straightened up and talked to the men.
    “All right, boys. What do you propose?”
    “We thought a finder’s fee might be in order,” Kam said.
    “A fee? You want me to pay you? For taking a runaway off your hands?”
    “We should have taken her to the nuns,” Raj said. “We should have dropped her off at a temple.” He took my hand.
    “Not so fast.” Kam stopped him. “We brought her to you because we know you’ll treat her right. She seems intelligent. She could work for you. And for that, a little thank-you is not out of the question.”
    “Intelligent?” Mrs. Mukerjee repeated. “I’m not so sure. See how she’s looking at me, like I’m from the moon or something. Girl, why are you looking at me like that?”
    “You look like a butterfly,” I said. “A beautiful butterfly.”
    She did, too. The robe she was wearing was loose with wide arms like wings, and the colors were bright and swirly. I hadn’t seen many butterflies, but now and then one would stray into Jharia, just for a quick visit.
    The men snickered. Mrs. Mukerjee’s hand went up to smooth her hair. With the other, she patted her robe.
    “We could work out some arrangement,” she told the men, “but I’m not giving you cash. That’s too much like buying a child, and I’m against that.”
    “How about we take it out in … trade,” Kam suggested.
    “I could use a bit of that right now,” Raj said.
    “I told you, my girls aren’t up yet,” Mrs. Mukerjee said. “And I need to wash this child off first and see what I’ve got. There may be nothing but more coal under that coal dust. What do you think, girl? Do you want to come work for me?”
    “Will I have to carry coal?” I asked.
    “Heavens, no. You’ll wear nice clothes and lie around all day. Maybe do a few little household chores, but you won’t mind doing your share of those, will you?”
    “It sounds good,” I said. “But just my share.”
    “Come back later,” Mrs. Mukerjee told the men. “I’ll let you know then how much trade she’s worth. Go. Your big truck is clogging up the alley.”
    “Thank you,” I said to them again as they walked away.
    I wanted to watch them drive away so I could wave goodbye, but Mrs. Mukerjee took me inside and closed the door.
    “I’m going back to bed,” she said. “Human beings were not meant to be awake this early. My goodness, you are filthy. I’m going to stick you on the roof for now. Don’t touch anything.”
    We climbed up the stone steps, higher and higher. I thought of the woman who was not my aunt, making the long climb up out of the coal pit.
    I had never been in a building with so many stairs! I smiled and waved at the sleepy women I saw as I looked into the rooms that opened out onto the landing. Some were sitting on mats and drinking tea. I saw children sweeping floors and being fed by their mothers. I smiled and waved. We were climbing stairs too fast for me to know if any of them waved back.
    When we got to the rooftop, I had a quick