Page 55 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
“Kip!” she echoed. “I’m Chick-a-biddie, and I’m Tami’s. Thisis Joey-boy. He named me.”
Joe could feel a blush creeping into his cheeks. “We’ve beencalling her Biddie.”
“Then I shall call you Biddie,” said Kip. “But we must learnyour true name. May I explore your branches? I’m a good climber.”
The girl poked Kip’s nose and said, “Squirrel.”
Kip tweaked hers and smiled. “Clever girl.”
Joe said, “I thought you didn’t know much about Amaranthinetrees.”
“I don’t. But I have two eyes, a nose, and some really oldfriends.” With a grin, he added, “Maybe I can figure out at least part ofBiddie’s true name. Would you like that, little lady?”
Biddie kissed his cheek. “Kip may climb.”
Kip moved so fast, all Joe really registered was the softthud of his boots, which he’d left behind. Moving closer so he could look upinto the branches, Joe searched for some sign of the redhead. Branches swayed,leaves rustled, but he couldn’t tell where Kip was.
When his neck began to ache, Joe spread his jacket and layon the ground, arms folded behind his head. The slope was only a little dampfrom yesterday’s rains. Biddie flopped beside him, her head resting on hisshoulder.
“Are you happier out here?” he asked.
“Happier with you here,” she replied.
“But happiest with Tami?”
“Yes!” She curled against him. “Tami and Joey-boy.”
“Me, too? Even though I’m not your twin.”
“You are Tami’s twin. Biddie knows.” She nuzzled his cheek.“Love you, Joey-boy.”
It put Joe more at ease, knowing that Biddie acknowledgedhis birthright. He wanted to fit into the new balance, assuming they could findit. He shyly murmured, “Love you, Chick-a-biddie.”
She giggled, her gaze fixed on the overhead branches. “Kipis nice.”
There was no denying that. “He’s one of Tami’s goodfriends.”
“And yours?”
Joe wasn’t sure about that, so he offered a cautious,“Maybe?”
“I heard that!”
Kip swung into view, hanging upside down from a branch. Or …was he actually standing on the underside? Joe tilted his head to one side,trying to make sense of their gravity-defying guest.
“We’re more than maybe-friends,” Kip released the tree,turning his body and landing lightly beside them. “Jiro and I have tradednames, and that’s as good as a bond.”
“Biddie, too?” asked the girl.
“You bet,” Kip promised with a wink. “But I’m very curious,Jiro. Have you ever seen strange things while you’re out in the orchard?”
Joe sat up and eyed the redhead, whose hands were claspedsuspiciously, as if caging something. “Just normal stuff.”
Kip’s expression turned thoughtful. “You’ve been here yourwhole life.”
“Since I was born. This is Grandad’s farm, and he grew uphere.”
He nodded. “Then it makes sense that you wouldn’t knowotherwise.”
