MadamJr rom that night on, Mariam and Laila did their chorestogether. They sat in the kitchen and rolled dough¹, choppedgreen onions, minced² garlic, offered bits of cucumber to Aziza,who banged spoons nearby and played with carrots. In theyard, Aziza lay in a wicker bassinet, dressed in layers ofclothing, a winter muffler wrapped snugly³ around her neck.
Mariam and Laila kept a watchful⁴ eye on her as they did thewash, Mariam's knuckles⁵ bumping Laila's as they scrubbedshirts and trousers and diapers.
Mariam slowly grew accustomed to this tentative but pleasantcompanionship. She was eager for the three cups ofchai sheand Laila would share in the yard, a nightly ritual now. In themornings, Mariam found herself looking forward to the soundof Laila's cracked slippers⁷ slapping the steps as she came downfor breakfast and to the tinkle⁸ of Aziza's shrill⁹ laugh, to thesight of her eight little teeth, the milky¹⁰ scent¹¹ of her skin. IfLaila and Aziza slept in, Mariam became anxious waiting. Shewashed dishes that didn't need washing. She rearrangedcushions in the living room. She dusted clean windowsills. Shekept herself occupied until Laila entered the kitchen, Azizahoisted on her hip⁶.
When Aziza first spotted¹² Mariam in the morning, her eyesalways sprang open, and she began mewling and squirming inher mother's grip. She thrust her arms toward Mariam,demanding to be held, her tiny hands opening and closingurgently, on her face a look of both

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