Page 78 - My FlipBook

L IS A J. L A W R E N C E

Bizarre but logical, all of it. “Elgin”—Greta cleared her
throat—“we don’t have rent money to give you today.”
His caterpillar eyebrows kinked in the middle, like his
back had just gone out. “No?”
“You see, we’re still in high school…” Greta began.
“And our dad and stepmom were paying the rent…” Ash
sighed, having to acknowledge his dead-to-him father and
never-existed stepmother.

“But they…left.” Greta nodded firmly—nothing more to
say.
They all sat in silence for a moment, looking at each
other.
“They left?” Elgin asked. “And when will they be back?”
“We don’t know if they’re coming back. They…took off,
left us.” Ash spat out the last words. ADVANCE READING COPY

Elgin’s eyebrows stayed kinked. “Just abandoned you?”
Greta fought the urge to cry, hearing it stated so plainly.
She nodded.
“Well.” Elgin sat back in his chair and rubbed his sagging
knees. “What are you going to do?” So much for the adult
taking charge of the situation.
Greta found her voice, grateful he hadn’t asked why
they’d left. “We’re applying for lots of jobs.”
“I have an interview this afternoon,” Ash added.

“So”—Greta said, glancing at Ash—“we’re hoping you could
give us a little more time to come up with rent for February.”
“But you’re still in school. How will you earn enough to
support yourselves?”

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