She lies down on the couch with me in her arms, even though I’m too big for it. We sleep peacefully for a time in this man-made lake until I grow hungry and want to eat. I want fruit roll-ups and gushers. I want the sweet stuff other kids get to have for snacks. I cry like a little kid, but she isn’t there. When no one comes to comfort me—when I realize there’s no one left to cry for—I go make myself a peanut butter sandwich. Dad comes home from work just before the night comes on and it’s only then we discover Mom’s emptied her closet and the damaged sedan has vanished from the driveway. Even
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Wow.
