“What happens if you don’t fall in love with your partner?” I asked her.

Katerina shrugged. “Why would you not?”

Mateo said, “Honey, even I have slept with my partners. I couldn’t stomach it anymore. That’s why I stopped competing, until I met Chastity-Belt Nina here.”

Nina drew a cross over her body, then pretended to lock herself up and throw away the key. “No one gets into these pants anymore. Your virtue is safe with me.”

To my surprise, Simone started talking. Her limpid eyes blinked rapidly as she spoke, and it was like she couldn’t keep the words inside. “You do everything with your partner. It’s not like you start out the best of friends but you rehearse together, you train every day, you put together your routines. And when you’re dancing together, you’re constantly trying to create the illusion of romance and passion.”

Nina said slowly, “It’s a real head trip. It often makes your professional relationship better if you don’t have all of the personal junk clouding it up. Sometimes that illusion we’re trying to create takes over. We can wind up so . . . ballroom. You know.” She struck a series of dramatic poses, with her face going from anguish to elation. “That’s what I like about your dancing, Charlie. You’re real.”

It was almost time for the next class. Most of the dancers trailed out until it was only me and Nina. She was tightening the straps of her Latin shoes.

“Does Julian have a girlfriend?” I asked, attempting to sound casual.

“He might be in between right now, but he’s a serial monogamist, you know what I mean? The last girlfriend was some jet-setter from Spanish aristocracy. He’s never going to settle down, but at least he’s stopped dating dancers.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Well, whichever woman he picked would shoot into the stratosphere with her dancing, so it was great for her, but it exhausted everyone, wondering who would be the lucky one this season.” Nina stood up. “He’s very attractive.”

“I know. I’ll be careful.”

“It’s the nature of the business. When it comes to the professionals, it’s a meat market out there. Even good people like Dominic and Adrienne will try to set you up with another pro. It’s like date-a-dancer. They have the best intentions but this world will swallow up everything you have if you make the wrong choices. Believe me, I know. And remember that students are forbidden fruit.”

—

Lisa’s nightmares had become so bad now that she woke screaming on some nights. I knew the Hunter test was approaching but this was too extreme, especially since she seemed calm about the exam when we spoke. Pa asked Uncle Henry to stop by our place over the weekend, sending Lisa out on an invented errand before he arrived. Uncle shook off his navy wool coat as he came in, appearing out of place in our old apartment with his pressed shirt and expensive shoes. I felt grateful we had someone like him in our family and hoped he could help Lisa.

Pa poured Uncle our finest white tea, in the porcelain set he reserved for company. He also set out a dish with sugared lotus seeds, candied winter melon and dried ginger dipped in red sugar.

“What is your opinion?” Pa asked.

“She’s at an age where there are many changes,” Uncle Henry said. “With those young girls, it is normal that she has some trouble sleeping at night sometimes.”

“She’s not just scared when she wakes up, she’s stiff with terror,” I said.

“I have never seen Lisa like this,” Pa said.

Uncle Henry frowned, thinking.

“She needs help,” I said.

“There are many possibilities at my clinic,” Uncle said. “But probably your best chance is the Vision of the Left Eye.”

“You’re sending her to the witch?” I asked. “I thought you’d recommend a specialist. Maybe someone she could talk to about her problems.”

They both waved their hands at me dismissively. Uncle Henry said, “People like psychiatrists are a bunch of quacks. She needs a professional.”

I was silent. Uncle was a successful healer. What did I really know about such things?

“I’ve seen it before,” Uncle Henry said. “Those therapists won’t do any good. They’ll just ask her about her childhood and all kinds of other nonsense. I think the Vision should start by doing a Release of Life. Then, if necessary, we can consult her further.”

“You’re absolutely right, older brother,” Pa said.

“She has a very bright future ahead of her,” Uncle said. “She’s not like those other kids who were born here. Sometimes they have less ambition than someone fresh off the boat.”

I looked down. I had ambition, I just hadn’t been given a chance to draw upon it, but it was still worthless in the context of my family. Even if Uncle and Pa knew I was a ballroom dancer now, they wouldn’t think it was an acceptable profession for a girl. Better that I’d be an accountant or pharmacist.

Pa said, “There’s nothing wrong with being born here. Charlie’s doing wonderfully at her computer firm.”

I managed a wan smile.

Uncle said, “Yes, that’s very good, but the ambition and drive that we had, it’s watered down in the later generations. I just see those young kids hanging out on the street and I think, ‘What a waste.’ They have it so easy and still do so little with it all. They have the English skills. They know how to fit in. But determination is more important than any of those things. When I first arrived in America, I worked day and night just to make ends meet.”

“Pa still does that,” I said.

“Well, we need to aid Lisa. I’ve been having Dennis help her study whenever he’s free. I’ll start working with her more myself.” Uncle paused a moment. “It’s imperative that she find some peace, especially with the school test coming up in a few weeks. When you talk to the Vision, Charlie, make sure she knows I sent you.”

—

The police had become much stricter in public places, but I knew that on most Saturday mornings the Vision would be at the edge of Gossip Park, telling fortunes. She sat on a park bench, huddled in a purple down coat, with her assistant, Todd, standing behind her. Despite the bitter cold, there was a crowd gathered around her. I nodded at Todd, then I held out my gloved hand, showing her the sealed red money envelope.

“Mrs. Purity, Pa asks you to perform a Release of Life for Lisa and me, as soon as possible.” Pa had decided that he might as well cover me too, as long as we were consulting the witch anyway. He said it was well worth the extra cost, although the expense worried me.

The Vision of the Left Eye indicated the group of people around me. “I am very busy right now, tell him I speak to him soon.”

I’d been prepared for this. “My Uncle Henry asks you to help us as well. It’s urgent.”

The witch tapped a finger against her cheek. “Come back before twilight.”

Things were confusing when she got all mystical. “Do you know what time that is?”

“Try four o’clock,” Todd said. “Bring a photo of the person you want to help too.”

When I came back with Lisa’s photo in my bag, I had to wait another half hour while the Vision finished with her customers. I stomped my feet to keep warm. Todd was still waiting behind her, leaning forward to whisper with her once in a while.

One man, overcome with emotion, gathered the Vision into his arms. “No one could have known he was sick but you. With that knowledge, you saved my boy. Thank you.”

—

I expected us to go to a temple, but instead the Vision led Todd and me to the live poultry store where Zan’s father worked. I never liked going in there. A large handwritten sign was plastered across the mirror: “We Slaughter Asian-Style Upon Request,” which meant they used a very thin cut across the neck of the bird so that it wouldn’t be broken. Chinese needed the head to be attached for religious rituals, otherwise they would go back and request a new bird. The front part of the store was sterile and clean like a regular butcher’s, with fowl body parts on beds of crushed ice.