Rose has come to mind because on the TV that hangs from the ceiling, I see a newsreel of protestors. The Japanese-speaking news anchor seems to be saying something about America’s latest military actions.

“Rose is very involved in the anti-war resurgence,” I say, perplexed at the words coming out of my mouth.

“Who is Rose?” Yuka nudges her hip tightly next to mine and runs her fingers up and down my arm. I’m tempted to lie, but I don’t.

“My girlfriend in California.”

Yuka keeps gliding her fingers up and down my arm.

“Maxine, you are not very loyal.”

Obviously Yuka is right. But it’s hard to be loyal to someone who doesn’t seem to care if I am or not.

“In some ways I am,” I say, feeling silly and uptight. A beer would relax me, but I can’t get to the refrigerator without folding the bed back into the wall. I wait for Yuka to say something, but she just keeps touching my arm, her eyes on the TV.

The news anchor is saying something about—I catch a few words—something nuclear, with a tape of the American president rolling.

“What’s he saying?”

“That your president want to send a bill to your congress for it to be okay for America to make tiny nuclear bomb.”

“A tiny one? What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.”

A picture of a panda now shares the screen with the news anchor. Yuka rolls onto her back, her black hair fanning out, the six pierces in her left ear gleaming blue in the TV light.

“Anti-war not resurgence, really,” she says, her eyes on the ceiling. “Some place never stop anti-war—”

The phone interrupts Yuka’s words, and the machine picks up.

“Max, Max, are you there?” Rose’s deep voice fills the air. “God, I’m apoplectic! Our fucking government is going to start the next arms race! In today’s paper I read that they want to make what they’re calling mini-nukes. I just can’t believe this! I’m just so fucking livid! What do they think, a little nuke is cute and less harmful, like a baby brother to Little Boy? I’m arranging a demonstration at Lawrence Livermore and the Federal Building. I miss you. Check your email then call me.”