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1BritneyThe door to our shabby trailer opens, and in walks my older brother, Joey

“Hey, hoork?” I ask, not bothering to look up froh school is online now, I still have to study if I want to graduate this year I was supposed to be finishing ht now But instead, I’encies

Joey is quiet I finally look up and take in my brother’s appearance He looks tired and worn out Ever since our parents died in an accident two years ago,out for me He makes sure there’s a roof over iven the tragedy But I think it’s starting to get to him His shoulders are slumped, his expression downcast, and frankly, my brother’s never looked this bad before

“Joey, what’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

A h hteen, but I’ht now, raduated yet

Unfortunately, my parents didn’t leave us with much My family used to be okay, but eren’t rich, and als went to their funeral expenses I didn’t kno much a funeral cost until we had to plan one for our mom and dad They didn’t have life insurance because they were young Why would they prepare for the end of their lives when they thought they hadbest left for later, e’d have more

My heart clenches with pain Our fahts every Friday, even when Joey and I were too old for that kind of thing It was fun, even if playing Charades with your folks see

But now, IWe haven’t had one since a the few items ere able to take from our old house, mostly because no one wanted them

Before we sold the house, we had a garage sale and tried to get rid of as s as possible Part of it is because we kneereinto a trailer, and wouldn’t have much space But the other part is because Joey and I needed the ht us a few months reprieve, and we used the proceeds to put a down payh it’s shabby and run-down, it works My brother and I are sih it would be nice to have consistent running water and electricity The hook-ups here are awful, and I want to screaement some days

But today, so My brother stands still in the doorway, histhe Corona Auto T-shirt he alears underneath

“Joey, you’re scaringon?” I ask

He turns to me with zombie-like eyes, and a chill runs down my spine What’s happened? But then he jerks alive, and nods

“Sorry Everything’s fine, Britney Don’t worry about it”

I stare at him