Little Ajay is excited. He’s had dinner and is staring out of the window eagerly. Amma said she’ll come home early. Tomorrow is holiday for everybody. Even Singh uncle won’t go office.

Ten’ clock. Ajay is very very restless.

The key turns. His mother slips in. Mother is Sarika Panicker. Spends nights in a call centre, taking calls from USA for an American Insurance company.

"Ajaya! You not gone to bed monay?"
"You said you will come home soon."
"Aee said Aeewil traee to come ra. You eaten?"
"Yes" he smiles.
"Gudbouy."

Ajay is in bed. Soon Amma will cuddle him. He wants to know how many crackers she’ll buy him for Diwali.

"Okay, now, what happen’d in school today uh?"
"Noth thing. Studies only."
"Gotyouer Math test result?"
"No."
"Tell me venyou get uh?"
"Amma, why din we do Diwali today?"
"Today ees small Diwali ra. We’ll do tomorrow."
"Singh Uncal's son Tintu did Diwali today also. Bursted crackers, rockets, puljharis."
"Singh Uncal is vaery reech ra. See – We pay rent, then he geevs rent to Tintu, and Tintu does Diwali all two days."
"And we?"
"We’ll do Diwali tomorrow. Quietlee. After Tintu burst his crackers. Daytime we’ll lock door. No light, no sound uh?"
"OK."
"You're a darling."
"Amma, but we will do crackers tomorrow, no?"
"Yes. But in the last. Atherwise, Tintu will come for sweets andcola. Amma’s got money only for crackers. OK?"
"OK, Amma."
"Call me Anna ra. Aee goto practice new name for American calls, no?"
"OK"
"Gudbouy"
"Amma what happen in office today?"
"Nothing. Calls only."
"Passed your test Amma?"
"No."
"You won’t get money then?"
"Aiyo! Aill gait money ra. It's not like yor test...it’s audit...meens checking. We speek English different, no. So Amricans don’t understand. And I don't also. Thatswhy I flunk."
"What you don’t understand Amma?"
"Many things ra."
"Tell no."
"Like what is turntable."
"What is turntable Amma?"
"Say Anna ra. It is record player. Like in ammumma’s hous. I thought it is table. You don worry." She said.

Shall I quit tomorrow, she thinks. Shal I quit quit quit?

"Amma see," He jumps up and down on the bed, “Good Morning! This is! Consico America! My name is! Anna Kaye! How may! I help! you today!"

Anna grabs at him laughing.

The next day, she sends Ajay to call office from Mr. Singh’s place.

“Say Aeem vereeey ill. Can’t go office in the evening. Say haeee fever. OK?”

Ajay’s back in fifteen minutes.

“Amma, he was vary angry Amma. He said tell Anna he will cut money. Nobody got holiday for Diwali in office. Only you lying.”

They spend the day behind doors, playing Ludo. Ajay is restless restless.

I will burst many crackers, he thinks.

Evening comes, goes. It’s night.

Streets and roads are noise, smoke, shouts – children with firecrackers.

Ajay is restless.

Finally, everyone go to sleep. Everything quietens outside.

Anna takes a sulking Ajay out to the alley. She says she has firecrackers for him in her purse. They share a chocolate.
Two lonesome figures in the dark alley.

She pulls out a long cheap string of firecrackers, and lights it. Goes off like machine guns firing in the belly of a subway parking. Ajay cheers.

Then they walk back home.

"You happy monay?'
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes. Anyway, too many crackers make pollution, no?"
"Yeah. They do."
"Anna will you leave this work?"
"No ra, Anna Kay is Amrican. Not Indian. Amricans never quit, no?"
"Yes" said Ajay, a little confused.