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―Oh, so he‘s a Marine‖ Mr Anderson nodded ―My brother‘s over there, too, only he‘s army Special forces‖

―Where is he stationed?‖

―I have no idea, really Sohanistan is all he‘ll say Scares the hell out of me when I don‘t hear fro out for a little while, like I‘ve run fifty miles instead of twenty‖

I kne that felt ―How often do you hear froht about it ―Once ahe does is classified What about you?‖

―Matt gets off an e-mail about once a week, but I write to hi so him alive Like our e-mails are--‖ I wanted to say lifelines If I wrote to Matt, I was keeping him close But I couldn‘t say any of that I‘d sound insane I‘d said too much already So I kept quiet

He waited Finally, he said, ―Do your parents know?‖

It seeaze was on the road ―No‖ I told hi ―The last thing I want is to upset my mother more than she already is‖

―I think she‘d besecrets‖

―She‘s got enough to worry about‖ I paused then added, ―You won‘tmention this to anyone, will you? To Ms Sher she should be worried about?‖ Before I could answer, he held up a hand ―Sorry Not my business I can keep a secret But you know, Jennayour brother‘s not the only person you can talk to‖

Was that the first time he‘d used my name-name? ―I don‘t know anyone else‖

―Well, you know et involved in school‖

Noas sounding like an adult ―How? I don‘t have a car I don‘t even have a cell‖

―Don‘t you have a license?‖

―My parents haven‘tMy mom hasn‘t had time to take me to the DMV‖

―What about your father?‖

―He‘s‖ My brain went into prerecorded robot-mode ―He‘s really busy He works all the tis to do He should make the time‖

Maybe in Mr Anderson‘s perfect world, there were parents ere more interested in their kids than their own problems, but I had to live in mine ―I‘m okay It doesn‘t matter,‖ I said ―It‘s not like I can exactly run out and do stuff with anyone, anyway‖

―Do you want to?‖ When I didn‘t answer, he said, ―That‘s what I thought‖

Honestly, Bob, what could I say?

c

The good news: as we pulled into the McMansion‘s driveway, I could tell froht downstairs was on

Then, the bad news: the garage door was down, so I had no way of knowing just as ho Mr Anderson coe and I was too worked up to argue

I didn‘t hear the television fro ―Mom?‖ Pause ―Dad?‖

No answer Iclose behind

Every step felt like ait hurt my eyes

Please I turned down the short hall for the kitchen Make , please, please

No such luck

15: a

Her head was down on the table: face turned away, cheek cradled on her arlass, half-full of clear liquid and ice, squatted in a puddle of condensation The cupboards beneath the sink were open The Stoli bottle was on the counter The kitchen s alcohol