« And you’ll have it tomorrow, » Nora would say, handing me the doll or the sweater or whatever tiny treasure had started the war. « Gia gets it today. »
« You always take her side. »
« I take the side of peace, » Nora would declare.
Then she would make some ridiculous face, and somehow, even Leila would laugh.
Nora was sunshine in human form.
She could walk into a room and make everyone softer. She tied our shoelaces before school, saved the red candies for Leila because they were her favorite, and slept in the middle whenever there was a storm because she said leaders protected both sides.
I remember one storm when thunder cracked so loudly the windows shook. Leila climbed into bed first, dragging her stuffed rabbit behind her.
I followed two minutes later, pretending I was not scared.
Nora lifted the blanket without even opening her eyes.
« Both of you are terrible at being brave, » she mumbled.
