the last year. I nod. “I picked it up at the school library a couple years ago. It was different than what I’m used to but I really liked it.”
A smile slowly appears on Kaitlin's face. “Yeah, I wasn’t sure if I would like a story written in poems. I almost didn’t get it but I’m glad I did.”
It may seem like such an ordinary thing, having a book in common, but it feels like more. This is something she and I didn’t share before. When my mom and her dad started seeing each other, it was new for both of us. For me, it was the first time I saw my mom with somebody other than my dad. For Kaitlin, it had been just her and her dad for years. Her mom left when she was six and she has never tried to communicate with Kaitlin since. I was never told much else. It broke my heart to think about somebody doing that to their own child. I got the impression that Kaitlin was okay with the way things were so I didn’t worry much.
Mom and Maurice got married last summer. Although we all moved into the same house, Kaitlin and I haven’t had much time to talk. I was busy with senior year—homework and studying and preparing for college. Until the TV show, we were lucky to talk at all. It never really felt like I had a sister. It felt more like a roommate, only she lived in the room across the hall.
Just before dinner, Lyndsay knocks on the front door. The second I open it, she bursts in. She is wearing her professional outfit: gray slacks along with a white button down. She says, “Guess what?”
“What?”
“I got the job!” she squeals with a big smile.
“Of course you did.”
She frowns. “Where’s the enthusiasm?”
“I’m sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind.” I give her a squeeze. “I really am very happy for you.”
“Thanks. I would have been here earlier but I had some forms to fill out. Then I had to talk with the manager about my schedule. I start next Tuesday.”
“That’s cool.”
“So, what did you want to talk about?” She pauses and whispers, “Did last night not go over well?”
I glance over at the kitchen where my mom is. “It…everything went fine.”
She wipes the back of her hand across her forehead. “Oh, good. I was worried something wouldn’t go according to plan.”
“Actually…” I start to say when my mom walks into the room.
She stops mid-walk. “Oh, hello sweetie.”
“Hi, Aunt Joy! Guess what? I got a job at The Community Market.”
My mom’s eyebrows rise. “A job?”
“Yup. It sounds like they might need someone else too, since I can only take on a couple days. So that’s good news.”
I freeze. Oh no. I open my mouth to change the subject but my mom beats me. “Good news?” she asks with a wary glance in my direction.
“For Adrienne.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, we were talking last night,” Lyndsay begins.
“About the job opening,” I interrupt. “You see, Lynds thought it would be a good idea for me to apply too. That way I could pay for more things on my own. I considered it for a minute but decided that it would be too much for me to do along with the volunteer work.”
Lyndsay stares at me dumbfounded. “Wha-huh?”
My mom nods. “That’s a wise decision, Adrienne. Maybe once you see how you handle your classes in the fall you can look into a part-time job in the spring.” She turns to Lyndsay. “You’re welcome to stay for dinner, dear. It’s all set, so come on in.” She walks back to the kitchen.
I heave a sigh of relief. “That was close.”
Lyndsay grabs at my arm. “I thought you talked to her.”
I put my hands over my face. “I was going to but I just couldn’t.”
“But you’re going to tell her?”
“Eventually…”
“What do you mean eventually?”
I touch her arm. “I can explain more after we eat. Just…pretend I’m still going for now. Please?”
“Okay, but only because you asked so politely.”
Later on in my room, I tell her all about my idea. She sits there silently as I
A smile slowly appears on Kaitlin's face. “Yeah, I wasn’t sure if I would like a story written in poems. I almost didn’t get it but I’m glad I did.”
It may seem like such an ordinary thing, having a book in common, but it feels like more. This is something she and I didn’t share before. When my mom and her dad started seeing each other, it was new for both of us. For me, it was the first time I saw my mom with somebody other than my dad. For Kaitlin, it had been just her and her dad for years. Her mom left when she was six and she has never tried to communicate with Kaitlin since. I was never told much else. It broke my heart to think about somebody doing that to their own child. I got the impression that Kaitlin was okay with the way things were so I didn’t worry much.
Mom and Maurice got married last summer. Although we all moved into the same house, Kaitlin and I haven’t had much time to talk. I was busy with senior year—homework and studying and preparing for college. Until the TV show, we were lucky to talk at all. It never really felt like I had a sister. It felt more like a roommate, only she lived in the room across the hall.
Just before dinner, Lyndsay knocks on the front door. The second I open it, she bursts in. She is wearing her professional outfit: gray slacks along with a white button down. She says, “Guess what?”
“What?”
“I got the job!” she squeals with a big smile.
“Of course you did.”
She frowns. “Where’s the enthusiasm?”
“I’m sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind.” I give her a squeeze. “I really am very happy for you.”
“Thanks. I would have been here earlier but I had some forms to fill out. Then I had to talk with the manager about my schedule. I start next Tuesday.”
“That’s cool.”
“So, what did you want to talk about?” She pauses and whispers, “Did last night not go over well?”
I glance over at the kitchen where my mom is. “It…everything went fine.”
She wipes the back of her hand across her forehead. “Oh, good. I was worried something wouldn’t go according to plan.”
“Actually…” I start to say when my mom walks into the room.
She stops mid-walk. “Oh, hello sweetie.”
“Hi, Aunt Joy! Guess what? I got a job at The Community Market.”
My mom’s eyebrows rise. “A job?”
“Yup. It sounds like they might need someone else too, since I can only take on a couple days. So that’s good news.”
I freeze. Oh no. I open my mouth to change the subject but my mom beats me. “Good news?” she asks with a wary glance in my direction.
“For Adrienne.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, we were talking last night,” Lyndsay begins.
“About the job opening,” I interrupt. “You see, Lynds thought it would be a good idea for me to apply too. That way I could pay for more things on my own. I considered it for a minute but decided that it would be too much for me to do along with the volunteer work.”
Lyndsay stares at me dumbfounded. “Wha-huh?”
My mom nods. “That’s a wise decision, Adrienne. Maybe once you see how you handle your classes in the fall you can look into a part-time job in the spring.” She turns to Lyndsay. “You’re welcome to stay for dinner, dear. It’s all set, so come on in.” She walks back to the kitchen.
I heave a sigh of relief. “That was close.”
Lyndsay grabs at my arm. “I thought you talked to her.”
I put my hands over my face. “I was going to but I just couldn’t.”
“But you’re going to tell her?”
“Eventually…”
“What do you mean eventually?”
I touch her arm. “I can explain more after we eat. Just…pretend I’m still going for now. Please?”
“Okay, but only because you asked so politely.”
Later on in my room, I tell her all about my idea. She sits there silently as I
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