“Okay.” Peter started ticking off things on his fingers, talking around a mouthful of food. “You need money, which means you need a job.”
Tammy shook her head. “I need a place to stay first.”
“Well, that’s easy,” Peter said, and I nodded. “You stay with us.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“Are you kidding?” I asked her. “What else will you do, sleep on the street?”
“We’ll have to come up with a story for Mom,” Peter added. “But it won’t be hard. She’s a softie at heart.”
“Besides, you’re my school-sanctioned pen pal,” I reminded her. “Mom knows I’ve been writing to you. She’s bound to think you’re moral and Christian and everything.”
“Hey, I know—we can tell her your parents are getting divorced.” Peter leaned back in his seat, folding his hands behind his head, pleased with his own ingenuity. “Mom’s always worrying that her and Dad getting divorced screwed us up, so she’ll feel bad for you. All you have to do is say you didn’t want to be in the middle of your parents fighting and she’ll fall for it.”
“That doesn’t seem right.” Tammy frowned.
I didn’t like the idea of lying to Mom, either, but…I’ve been lying to her ever since I found out about Peter. Sometimes, lying is what has to be done. “We’ll say you just wanted to get away for the summer. That’ll give us time to figure something else out.”
“In that case, I definitely have to pay my own way.” Tammy nodded. “You’re right. I need a job.”
“That’s even easier.” Peter grinned. “The stock guy at Javi’s quit last night. Said he was sick of sweeping floors and tossed his dirty apron on the counter right next to the bananas. Rosa looked ready to murder him. All day she’s been grumbling about having to find someone new. If I tell her I’ve got someone, she’ll be so happy, she’ll probably give us both a raise.”
Tammy looked uncertain. “I’d be the new…stock guy?”
“Javi and Rosa are great,” I told her. “You’d be fine.”
“Okay…”
“Chris!” Penny shouted in the next room. “You have to share with Penny!”
Chris immediately started wailing.
I went over to separate them while Peter leaned in to tell Tammy something I couldn’t hear. She laughed.
It was strange to hear her laughing after everything that had happened. But that’s who Tammy is, I guess. She’s been hiding how she feels for years, and she’s gotten good at it by now.
I sat down while Penny told me a detailed story about what Chris had been doing with her Barbies. Behind us, Peter and Tammy went on talking in low voices.
I was nervous about how this was all going to work, but more than that, I was happy she was here. Happier than I’d ever thought I’d be.
There’s more to write about what happened after we left the O’Sullivans’, a lot more, but I’m about to fall asleep on the sofa, and I think it’s finally safe for me to go upstairs. More later.
Yours, Sharon
Friday, June 2, 1978
Dear Harvey,
It’s close to midnight. I’m so tired I could fall over, but I’m writing this instead, because I need something to help me stay awake until Sharon gets up here.
I’m writing from your city, Harvey. I didn’t think it would ever happen, but I’m here. I know I’m not dreaming, because I just looked out the window and even in the dark, I can see the fog.
I’ve always wanted to come here, but I think it’s only now hitting me how alone I am.
I miss my sisters. I miss my bratty little brother. I miss my mother, Harvey, and for as long as I can remember, avoiding her has been my number-two priority, after avoiding my aunt. Sharon’s mom has been so kind and firm and cautious she reminds me of the good days at home, before Mom started to completely hate me.
And then there’s Sharon.
She’s nothing like I imagined, Harvey. In her letters she says so