My Words (3)

“You don’t have to “ I answered instinctively

It turns out she can pick me up afterward.

It turns out she can pick me up afterward.

She just texted me. “Not a problem.”

After school I ducked into a restroom to avoid bumping into Miranda ‘s mother outside.

After school I ducked into a restroom to avoid bumping into Miranda ‘s mother outside.

After school I ducked into a restroom to avoid bumping into Miranda ‘s mother outside.

Half an hour later I walked out of the school, ran three blocks to the bus stop, hopped on the M86 to Central Park West, and took the subway home

“Hey there, sweetie! “ Mom said the moment I stepped through the front door.

“We stopped for pizza “ incredible how easily a lie can slip through your lips.

Mom hesitated, her eyebrows still high up on her forehead from when I’d snapped at her a second earlier.

I had always found his obsession with everything Star Wars kind of geeky.

I had always found his obsession with everything Star Wars kind of geeky.

How he had chosen the beads himself in a crafts store in Soho.

When August cut his braid off that night, without an explanation, without telling me beforehand.

I’ve seen Auggie brushing his hair in the bathroom mirror. He meticulously tries to get every hair in place.

I’ve seen Auggie brushing his hair in the bathroom mirror. He meticulously tries to get every hair in place. He tilts his head to look at himself from different angles.

He tilts his head to look at himself from different angles, like there’s some magic perspective inside the mirror that could change the dimensions of his face.

He tilts his head to look at himself from different angles, like there’s some magic perspective inside the mirror that could change the dimensions of his face.

Mom knocked on my door after dinner. She looked drained.

He said nothing tests friendships like high school, and then proceeded to poke fun.

He said nothing tests friendships like high school, and then proceeded to poke fun.

I’d heard him brag to people that he had a “ fifteen- year- old “ who is reading Tolstoy .

He liked to rib me about where I was in the book, in a war part or in a peace part .

It was silly stuff.

“I know “ I acknowledged.

Two seconds later he came back with Daisy dangling in his arms.

Two seconds later he came back with Daisy dangling in his arms, and he laid her down next to me on the bed .

I stormed dramatically into Auggie‘s room and slammed the door.

I stormed dramatically into Auggie’s room and slammed the door.

I stormed dramatically into Auggie’s room and slammed the door.

He was on his PlayStation and didn’t even look up . I hated how zombified his video games made him.

“Why would people be mean “ he said.

It was the first time in his life that I heard him be sarcastic like that.

I saw Mom standing outside Auggie ‘s room. Her hand on the doorknob.

I saw Mom standing outside Auggie ‘s room. Her hand on the doorknob, her forehead leaning on the door, which was ajar.

“Is Auggie okay ?” I asked. I knew that sometimes he would wake up choking on his own saliva if he accidentally turned over on his back.

“Is Auggie okay ?” I asked. I knew that sometimes he would wake up choking on his own saliva if he accidentally turned over on his back.

“Is Auggie okay ?” I asked. I knew that sometimes he would wake up choking on his own saliva if he accidentally turned over on his back.

Smearing some cream cheese on my bagel.

Mom was making August ‘s lunch (American cheese on whole-wheat bread, soft enough for Auggie to eat)

August sat eating oatmeal at the table.

I’d get off at my stop.

“She can take the subway home “ said Dad from the other room, adjusting his tie as he stepped into the kitchen.

“ she ‘s old enough to take the subway by herself “ Dad insisted.

Mom looked at both of us. “ Is something going on ?”

Mom looked at both of us. “ Is something going on ?” . She didn’t address her question to either one of us in particular.

“ you would know if you had come back to check on me “ I said spitefully.

“Oh God, Via,” said Mom, remembering now how she had completely ditched me last night.

She put down the knife she was using to cut Auggie ‘s grapes in half.

Still a choking hazard for him because of the size of his palate.

Still a choking hazard for him because of the size of his palate.

“ I know, I know.” I nodded indifferently.

Mom came over, put her hands on my cheeks , and lifted my face to look at her .

Mom came over, put her hands on my cheeks , and lifted my face to look at her .

“Mom, it’s fine.” This time i meant it . She looked so genuinely sorry.

“Okay then, I’ll pick you up, no problem,” Mom said decisively.

Sweeping the half-grapes into a snack bag with the side of her knife.

“ It means you don’t have to pick her up in the car like she ‘s a little girl “ he said sternly.

“ of course she has a MetroCard ! “ answered Dad , fully exasperated.

Dad and I jogged down the stoop stairs and headed down the block.

Dad did turn around, walking backward for a few steps.