9

SASHA “You made it to special ops?” I nod, kicking at a few pebbles, then slowly, almost sheepishly, raise my head to stare at Uncle Albert. He’s older than my late father, has bushy brows and a round face and a big nose, as well as pointy ears. My cousins and I used to call him the fat elf in our ignorant younger years. Uncle Albert just laughed it off and even asked Papa and my other uncle not to reprimand us. He was the mediator of the family, the account keeper, and the peace that maintained the bridge between my third volatile uncle and my hotheaded Papa. Now, there’s only he and I to protect the other two remaining members of our family. And, hopefully, find my brother one day. Small hands reach out for my face, grabbing at air. “Sasha…Sasha…” I scoop my youngest cousin, Mike, from Uncle’s clutches. He’s four years old and the only survivor of Uncle Albert’s children. In fact, he’s my only cousin who stayed alive. Mike was lucky enough to be hidden away by his mother in the cupbo