PillowFace Read Free Page A

not.  I figured I would bring pizza home for dinner or something else that you like.  Haven’t thought that far ahead, yet.  I would have done more this morning, but…I just…ran out of time…”
    “Uh-huh.”  He clucked his tongue, staring hazily at her feeble breakfast attempt. “You woke me up at seven in the morning, on the first official day of summer vacation, just to feed me Pop-Tarts?  Wow, you’re the best big sister in the whole world!” He intentionally spoke to her as if he were five.  Something he’d always do when he didn’t get his way.  He obviously hated the breakfast.
    “I know it’s not fantastic, but it’s something, right?”
    “Oh, it’s something.”
    She sighed.  “I just wanted to make sure you ate something…and this was all I had time to make.”
    “You’re not adapting to this whole ‘Mom’ thing very well at all, are you?”
    Ignoring his abuse, she sat an empty glass beside the plate, filling it to the brim with orange juice. “Is this okay or do you want to make me feel like shit because I didn’t squeeze the oranges myself?” On her way to the fridge, she immediately regretted having said that.
    “Wow,” he said. “Ouch.”
    Putting the orange juice on the top shelf, she glanced back at him. He looked pitiful, sitting over the burnt tarts, poking them with his finger.  “I’m trying my best here; this hasn’t exactly been easy for me, either.”
    He flicked a tart; it spun off the plate, and onto the table. “Whatever.  You run off any chance you get and leave me here to fend for myself with Pop-Tarts and frozen dinners.”
    He was right.  The freezer was overloaded with frozen meals.  Haley felt a weight in her stomach.  She thought he liked them. 
    Doesn’t he get how hard this is for me? 
    How could he?  He’s only twelve.  But, he thinks he knows every goddamn thing about everyone . 
    Now she sounded like Mom.
    Haley could feel her eyes swelling.  Her jaw seemed to be coming to life on its own, trembling and shaking.  She was going to cry.  But, she wouldn’t do it in front of Joel.  He wouldn’t get the benefit of seeing it.  She slammed the fridge door so hard the magnets flew off.  They spun across the floor.  “I’m sorry about Rusky, but I’m also sick of you talking to me like I’m a piece of shit.”
    “Oh, boy.”  He looked to be tensing in preparation for the oncoming fight. 
    “After you bury Rusky…I want you to mow the yard!”  She felt stupid even saying it, but it was the first thing that came to her.
    “What?”
    “Yep, weed-eat, and all that other shit that makes a lawn look pretty.  I’ve been doing it since the spring, it’s your turn now buddy-boy.”  The back of her head was going numb with anger.  Her mouth moved, wanting to keep the lashing coming, but her mind didn’t know what to say next.  She allowed her instincts to speak on her behalf.  “And, if it’s not done by the time I get home, I’m going to fucking burn your mask collection.”
    Ga sping, he said, “You wouldn’t dare.”
    “Try me.”
    He stared into her eyes, looking for the spot inside of her where she knew self-doubt lingered. He wouldn’t find it this time. Her earthy eyes had turned cold and callous. 
    Looking away, he buried his face into his hands, and nodded. He was muffled when he said, “Fine, Haley.  You can leave now.  Have a good day at work.”
    Haley snatched her purse from the counter. Keeping her head aimed high, she marched out of the kitchen.  On her way out, she glanced back and watched Joel as he folded his arms on the table, and buried his face into them.  She slammed the door to ring her point home. 
    In the garage, Haley sat in the idling car.  She geared it into reverse and thumbed the red button on the remote attached to her sun visor.  The garage door slowly began to lift. By the time it was high enough for her to pass under it, she was crying too hysterically to leave. 
    Putting