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It’s been five days since THE KISS and today in school he didn’t even breathe in en circle or so

Mom and Dad are on the shit list this week, too Dad because he’s acting all serious and so backflips and cartwheels I ht? And Mom because she doesn’t even stand up for herself, and didn’t cry once about Pa, either, not even at the funeral She just keeps going through the oddaether just by getting enough fiber Like she’s soa pants and a Vassar sweatshirt

Nick is like that too It drives me crazy She didn’t used to be, I don’t think Maybe I just don’t reh school, she’s always doling out advice like she’s forty-five and not exactly eleven months and three days older than I am

I remember last month, when Mom and Dad sat down to tell us about the divorce, she didn’t even blink "Okay," she said

Oh-fucking-kay Really?

Pa’s dead and Mom and Dad hate each other and Nick looks at me like I’m an alien half the time

Listen, Dr Lick Me, here’s all I have to say: It’s not okay

Nothing is

JULY 17

Nick

Sohts are only twelve ht as well be in different countries Main Heights is all ne construction, new storefronts, new clutter, newly divorced dads and their newly bought condos, a small cluster of sheetrock and plywood and fresh paint, like a stage set built too quickly to be realistic Dad’s condo looks out over a parking lot and a line of skinny elhway The floors are carpeted and the air conditioner never id, recycled air, so it feels like living inside a refrigerator

I like Main Heights, though I like my all-white roos clinging to the sky Main Heights is a place where people go when they want to forget