PART 3   I stared at the hospital bracelet in the lunchbox until the letters of my own name blurred.

“Better than he thinks.”

“What does that mean?”

“He fixed three cabinets, two lamps, and the front office door. Now everyone thinks he’s maintenance.”

I laughed for the first time while talking about him.

“Of course he did.”

Then Denise paused.

“He talks about your mother a lot.”

“I figured.”

“And about you.”

I got quiet.

“What does he say?”

“That you have her continue reading …