When we get to the register, I add a couple of 3 Musketeers to our small pile of stuff, and Liz sets a few Snickers for herself on the belt conveyor. She pays for the items and holds out the change for me. “Here, take this change for your science project donation.”
Adding what Liz just gave me, I’ve collected $58.12 for the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, not including what Mr. Hatley will donate. There are still a few more days left of school, and I might be able to add even more money to the donation. Dub’s helping me spread the word. He keeps hinting at something nice he’s bought me for our anniversary. It would be funny if he got me a new pair of All Stars too.
When we get home, I keep my eyes focused on our bent aluminum overhang. It’s taken me this long to truly feel lucky for the blessings in my life.
The house is quiet when we walk inside, and Mom places her finger over her lips. Lemond must’ve fallen asleep.
With the candy bars and picture frames hidden in my purse, I walk down the hallway to my room. Lemond’s door is open, and I can hear him breathing heavily as I walk past his room. At least it’s his room for now. I have a feeling it’ll always be a guest room of sorts.
As the hours tick by, I can’t sleep. I pull the emerald green dress out of the closet and change into it. I plan to try it on every once in a while. Have my own Intervention to pick up my spirits when I need to.
I turn around in the mirror and imagine what people from school will say when they see me wearing it.
Who’s that girl in the pretty green dress?
Is that really Calli?
She’s not plain at all.
Maybe I’ll be able to wear it in New Orleans if we end up going. Most likely, it will be just my family hitting the road. My mom, Mom. My other mom, Liz. And me, Calli.
Who knows who might be part of our lives in the future?
JESSICA LEE ANDERSON is the author of Trudy (Milkweed, 2005) and Border Crossing (Milkweed, 2009). She studied writing for young adults at Hollins University and has published two nonfiction readers, as well as fiction and nonfiction in a variety of magazines, including Highlights for Children. She’s a part of the Texas Sweethearts and Scoundrels (www.texassweethearts.com) and hopes to be more Sweetheart than Scoundrel. She lives near Austin, Texas, with her husband, Michael. Visit her Web site at www.jessicaleeanderson.com.
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Interior design by Connie Kuhnz
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The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
© 2011, Text by Jessica Lee Anderson
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Anderson, Jessica Lee, 1980–
Summary: When fifteen-year-old Calli’s two moms take in Cherish, a troubled teenager, and Calli tries to stand up to her antisocial behavior, things quickly begin to spiral downward before Calli can begin to regain some semblance of control.
eISBN : 978-1-571-31845-9
[1. Family problems—Fiction. 2. Foster home care—Fiction. 3. Lesbians—Fiction. 4. Mothers and daughters—Fiction. 5. Interpersonal relations—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.A53665Cal 2011 [Fic]—dc22
2011007076
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Calli Page 14