Page 29 (1/2)

At his house, I locate the stairs leading to the apartainst a tree I wipe hborhood to make sure no one sees me, then quietly climb the steps I knock and knock and knock I knock until my knuckles feel raw

"He’s not here," a nize him from the Forrest Sanctuary church directory Mr Hoffman

"When will he be back?" I ask

The ham to visit a friend I’m not sure when he plans to coh school Any idea why?"

He left without saying good-bye? Without checking to make sure I was okay?

I’ fat sinner

My brother is on another plane of existence

Drew’s angry with o to Forrest Sanctuary, right?" Mr Hoffhter?"

"Yes, sir" My hands shake

"Can I give Brian a e"

I turn and make my way down the steps and climb on my bike before anyone else sees I’m here I pedal ho room couch

"Hi," I say to hi to ask aboutthe Bible He looks up atunder his eyes

"I wish you hadn’t given up on Veena so quickly," I tell Dad

He jerks his head up and finds my eyes "What happened with Veena is none of your business I prayed about it"

"Prayer doesn’t solve everything, Dad It’s not going to solve Ryan’s proble with Veena, but you’re so da the people at church say You only gave up because they told you to I’ lonely like this"

Dad takes off his glasses and runs a hand over his Bible

I focus onAnd no, I’ht Make it your damned self"

He doesn’t open his eyes

I stalk down the hall toto put on pajamas, I crawl under my covers and cry, cry, cry Brian quit his job Because of uilt Neither Dad nor Ryan knocks on the door I don’t get any texts Drew doesn’t come over to read Cosmo with me Will doesn’t show up by way of a laer

"Please, God," I whisper "Please Tell hts I i at a pitch To connect To send a line drive over the second baseman’s head

God, please

My cell beeps I juht

Suck in air Hesitate I can do this Squinting through s She picks up

"Mo, baby?"

"I need you"

She sucks in a breath "I’ now I can be there in three hours"

Mos loosely around her shoulders, and her lips are painted a pale pink She’s as beautiful as ever, but so She’s happy

"French toast?" she asks, rubbinginto s Bacon "No, thanks," I reply I don’t deserve French toast

"How about you take a shower, and then we’ll get you so ," I reply, focusing on her beautiful face It a, and I found the schedule on the refrigerator"

"I didn’t even know he and Dad noticed"

She pushes hair off a of baseball makes me remember Brian and Drew and Will and Laura, and thatMoet a towel fro the trick She doesn’t pressbut rub ? Annie?" I ask, sniffling

"She stayed home with Theresa She’s a real sweet puppy--I hope you’ll come meet her sometime soon"

"Mo and all"

For judging you For not thinking about your feelings

Molad you called," she whispers "I hate to think of you crying alone What happened?"

I sniffle Mucus clogs my throat "When you hear what I did, you’ll hate o for a walk before the ga"

"You’re no quitter"

"I already quit softball, you know"

"So you took a couple seasons off Nothing wrong with that"