Page 20 (1/2)

Since my dad’s accident, the close proxiet from home to work in less than a e anymore Jeff is the one who does all the work, while Dad drinks hi room recliner

I walk up to the dented metal door, which is shut and locked A lined piece of paper sticks to it with a jagged strip of duct tape, and I instantly recognize

YOU’RE LATE

Tords, all caps Shit, Jeff was pissed

I use my set of keys to unlock the side door, then step inside and hit the button that sends the hugeupward It’s still cold out, but I always keep the door open, no id the weather is It’shere After a while, the overpowering odor of oil and car exhaust makes me want to kill myself

Jeff has leftThe older e and a headlight replaced Easy peasy I throw on a blue juo on the back, turn the radio dial to the first ht to work

An hour passes before I takewater froarette

I’ve just snubbed the butt out beneath ine hulih the trees that line the long driveway

Like a coward, I duck back inside and race to the raised hood of the Buick I bend over and pretend to give the engine a spot check, while also pretending I’ andat my brother I hear two sets of footsteps, one slow and laborious, leading away frory thue

"You couldn’t come over and say hello to hihten up and close the hood "Sorry, I was finishing up I’ll stop by the house before I go"

"You better, because he just gave me shit for it, and I’m not even the one who didn’t say hello!" Jeff’s dark eyebrows draw together in a displeased frown He looks like he wants to lecture e the subject before he can