Worlds Within Read online

CHAPTER 2 - NITIKA

  Janie had overslept. She rushed around the kitchen. Although she would probably be late for work, she was determined that Toby would have a good breakfast before school. He had seemed so distracted last night. Hopefully school wasn't getting harder for him she thought. It worried her that he was burying himself in books like a hermit instead of making new friends at school. The only friend he seemed to have made was Nitika, who worked at the public library.

  As Toby sat down, she pushed yesterday's paper aside to make room for his plate. He picked it up and said, "Look, there's a story about Nitika."

  Janie flinched, "What does it say?"

  He read:

  ?A local librarian, known only as Nitika, is waiting for results from the DNA lab at the Family Ancestry Studies and Testing Institute, known as FAST. She is hopeful that the tests will prove her claim that she is in fact one quarter Navajo. Over thirty years ago, the woman she claims as her mother disappeared for six years. When she reappeared, she had a husband and a little girl she called Nitika, but there was never a birth certificate?

  Toby paused. "Wow, I thought I had a hard time fitting in. Are you doing this one at work?"

  Janie nodded, "But I can't talk about it you know."

  Toby rolled his eyes, "I know."

  They ate in silence. Janie thought about the team at work that was assigned to the case. They all wondered about the young woman's history. Her life was clouded in mystery. People were naturally drawn to her, but she kept to herself a lot. The team would be finishing up the report today, and Janie was hoping for positive results.

  After breakfast, Toby went to school. He waited with dread for a summons from Carson about leaving the day before. Several of the kids asked him about Kick Carson's office. His status at school had definitely improved. If he survived this, he might actually become popular.

  He didn't tell anyone how he had gotten out of the office. The book was tucked deep in his backpack. He knew he had to return it. But taking the walk down that hall was more than he could face.

  At the end of the day he felt nervous relief. Perhaps this whole thing would blow over. Maybe Carson had forgotten him. As he closed his locker, he overheard two girls talking. It was the Davis twins from his science class.

  "I know why she doesn't have a birth certificate. It's because she's an alien," one of them said.

  "You mean like from Mexico?"

  "Nooo," she giggled. "Like from outer space, you silly." She blinked her eyes rapidly, wiggled her fingers at the sides of her head like antenna, and made weird noises.

  Her sister sputtered and snorted as she suppressed laugher. Doubled over they giggled their way down the hall.

  Toby took a deep breath and tried to "consider the source" like his mom was always telling him.

  On the way home he decided to stop at the library. The building fascinated him with its antique stone architecture and gargoyles perched on the top of the drain spouts. During one of his first visits to the old building he had discovered a little used alcove. The tiny room was hidden at the end of a hallway behind the stacks of books. It soon became his secret place to get away from the world. He had spent a lot of time reading in that room.