The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee T. Frazier Page A

better since they figured out what was wrong,” Minni said.
    Grandmother Johnson scowled. Minni scrambled for the Wite-Out and got busy changing her name.
    “How will you get anywhere with grades like that?”
    “I can’t help it that my teachers just saw me as dumb and didn’t try to help.”
    “Did you ask?”
    “Mom did, every year. But no one seemed to take her seriously. She kept hearing that I just needed to apply myself more. I think they were being racist, because this year when
Dad
went in—”
    Grandmother Johnson snatched up the application. “Never blame others for what is
your
problem.”
    Keira crossed her arms. “I can’t help the way my brain is wired.”
    Grandmother Johnson straightened her glasses and put her hand to her heart as if trying to slow it from the outside. She sat, took a deep breath and thrust out her ample chest. “Perhaps not. But there is always plenty that
is
within your control.” She started again to read Keira’s application, then stopped and put it down. “Academic excellence has always been critical to the success of our race. It is how we have lifted ourselves from poverty to positions of power and influence. We will have to do something about your performance, but for now, let us focus on the matter at hand.”
    While Grandmother Johnson finished reading, Minni snuck her cell phone from her pocket and quietly texted her sister:
    i luv u dont listen 2 her
    She pushed Send.
    Keira fidgeted with her pocket, keeping her eyes down and her phone out of sight. Minni could tell she was checking her messages. Keira looked up. They smiled at each other.
    L ater that night, Minni and Keira sat on Keira’s bed in their nightshirts with their backs against the wall and their straight legs touching. Keira put her phone on speaker, and in hushed voices they told their parents the whole buttermilk story, including Minni’s burp. “You did
what?”
Mama said. Then they all laughed.
    “Grandmother Johnson freaked about my grades,” Keira said.
    The other end of the line was quiet. “Oh, Keira. I’m sosorry,” Mama said finally. “Of course she would scrutinize your applications.”
    “Why haven’t you told her?”
    Silence again. “I know I should have, baby. Don’t worry—I’ll be sure she knows we’re on top of things—and to leave you alone about it. Have you done your reading for the night?”
    Minni and Keira looked at each other. “It’s kind of late,” Minni said. “We’ll start tomorrow, when we’re fresher.” Keira nodded.
    They said good night to their parents and got into bed. Lying in the dark, Minni told Keira what she’d been thinking after Grandmother Johnson had come down on her so hard, including her trapped fart theory. Keira laughed, of course. “You’re not going to let her get to you, right?” Minni asked.
    “I
so
don’t care what she thinks.”
    “Good.” Minni was about to say good night when something rumbled below. It sounded as if someone had dragged a piece of furniture across the wooden floor.
    The rumble came again.
    Minni sat up and pushed her ear toward the sound. It kept coming, like waves crashing on the beach—except more jarring, not relaxing like the ocean.
    Keira’s covers rustled as she sat up as well. “She’s snoring!” Keira said with glee. “Grandmother Johnson snores!”
    She was right. The jagged sound was snoring.
Grandmother Johnson’s
snoring.
    Minni clapped her hand over her mouth, trying to keepherself from laughing, but Keira didn’t bother She just laughed.
    Minni was sure they’d wake Grandmother Johnson with their carrying-on, but the snoring kept going and going. The longer it went, the harder they laughed, until Minni forgot all about the pageant and the applications and Grandmother Johnson’s apparent approval of her over her sister.

Chapter Eleven

    W ay too early the next morning, Grandmother Johnson yanked open the door leading to the attic. “Time to get up!”
    Minni rubbed her eyes