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Chapter 1

Haley

A door squeaks open at the far end of the barren hallway and the clicking of high heels echoes off the row of metal post-office boxes I atteh the mail All of it leftovers froazine, an Aardening catalog for my mother

Collection notices for my father

There are ive therandfather Maybe I should save us all from the reminder and set them on fire It’s not like there won’t be a fresh batch to onto the floor Beyond the s, the sky darkens into dusk I inhale deeply to cal rocery list frorandfather who hatesoff and picking up ht and I’ve got two hours to ht on the streets

The woman with the noisy heels continues down the hallway and doesn’t acknowledge my existence as she heads to the employee entrance Unlike me, she’s dressed in a thick winter coat Her hair is the saine my cheeks are painted red, like hers, fro is nor about this is norer have a brick-and-er have a home

I pause at the last letter in the stack, and not in an enlightening way No, this is the same pause I had when my father announced he’d lost his job The same pause I had the day the county sheriff taped the eviction notice on our front door It’s a thin white envelope Its appearance wouldn’t cause anyone else’s heart to sink to their toes For me, it does It’s from the University of Notre Dame, and it’s obviously not an acceptance

I sla into ym, I feel a little drunk on hope and a little like I’ the rejection fro a letter of recommendation for a scholarship to anywhere is definitely a potent wine Alcohol and an e bold

"My, ohin the shit" Froe, my cousin Jax shouts at me Beads of sweat blanket hiloves on his hands and protective gear on his head I say nothing as I’hters war rope to the pissed-off voice of Dr Dre booer than eighteen, older than six, and, for a few seconds, like I’, a step above a warehouse and several steps below those fancy chain gy frorandfather’s various ainning fighters cover the wall A sweet co-in overwhel ring, and in the other corner so Jax, watch a deon

The rustling of nylon athletic pants gains ainst the doorframe of his office His name is John, and he requires us to call hio of his gyuy here, John is toned and a fighting machine Sixty-two years hasn’t slowed hirando has driven hih for hell to have frozen over"

My chin lifts in response "You said I was alelcoht you said you’d rather drink poison then step in here again"

I did And he has me exactly where he wants me, but I refuse to break eye contact We stare at each other for what seerandfather has a weathered look: a firm face set in stone, crow’s-feet sta parentheses around his randfather sy you?" he asks

My uncle Jax’s dad My father’s half brother The guy whose house we’ve been living in since the bank repossessed our home and we anizations refer to him as The Dictator The answer to John’s question is yes, but I say, "No"

"Is it yourwrong at school?"

Everything is wrong at school "No"

"Haley," he says with an overabundance of exasperation "I’ve got fighters to train Whatever it is, spit it out"

I glance away and focus on the fighters waro over their heads, then under their feet Snap Snap Snap It’s as if they juuys I know from school Others I don’t My older brother, the one who’s leading thehs and pushes off the doorfrahters