Julius Lester

From p. 90:

I did not know how to explain to her that words feel like stones in my mouth. I do not like words and do not trust them. I know I sound sometimes like I am not very intelligent. In my mind words flow like the Hapi. But when they reach my tongue, they start to go bacward, as if they do not want to leave me, as if they do not want anyone to hear them except me. It is hard to talk about that to someone as sure of her opinions as Ima. So I said nothing that day. I have never said much when I'm with her, which is not often these days.

"I did not talk about Ya enough to your sister, and look what happened," she said finally, in answer to my question. "She forgot who she was. She betrayed us and she betrayed Ya."

But Almah did not forget and she betrayed no one. She simply does not believe. I wonder if Ima would understand if she saw Almah dance at a festival. Grandfather says Almah causes the goddesses to walk among the people. Ima could not see that because she does not believe in goddesses. That is why she and Almah cannot talk to each other. Neither believes what the other believes.