"I came to live with my great-aunt Frances." I said. "My father and mother were in a bad car accident. My father's in a wheelchair now and my mother is still in a coma. My grandmother had a stroke."
"You full of good news," Chad said and laughed.
"Go on. Sit down, Don't mind him. He's practicing to be an idiot and he's almost perfect." Alanis said.
"Hey."
"Ain't it time for you to get back to your cage?" she asked him.
"Oh, you're so smart," he said. He looked at me and then he shrugged. "What's the difference? I don't care. I don't want to be in any kindergarten class," he added, looking at me. "I'll see you tomorrow,"
"Maybe," Alanis said. "I'll have to check my schedule and see if I can fit you in."
"Yeah, right," he said and left.
"Timers up on him," Alanis said after he was gone, "Timers up?"
"Yeah. I put love into boys like people put coins in a parking meter. He's expired," she said. "Go on, sit down. You don't look as young as you say you are. Your parents tall?"
"Yes."
I sat on the big, soft chair. The pillow was so worn that I sank until I felt something hard beneath me. She flopped back on the sofa.
"Look, girl," she said with great forcefulness. "I'm no fool. hear? I know you're no seven-year-old," she said, her eyes narrow. 'Are you lying for some reason? Trying to keep being left back a secret or something? I know girls did that."
"No. I'm seven. That's the truth."
"Look at you. You're bigger than me upstairs. I didn't have any sign of boobs until I was almost fourteen." she said. "And certainly not as far along as you are at seven." she added. nodding.
"How old are you?" I asked.
"I'm sixteen going on thirty. That's what my grandfather says. Mr. Marshall." She laughed. "So you're going to school here then?"
"Uh-huh. I got my packet."
"Packet?"
"Papers in an envelope telling about the bus, where my class is, my teacher's name."
"Who's your teacher?"
"Mrs. Morgan."
"Well, you'll be in the third grade. You're telling the truth about that. I had her. She's all right when her husband's home. When he's not, she's cranky."
"Why isn't her husband home?"
"He's some kind of salesman. Sells dental stuff. You know why she's happy when he's home. right?"
I nodded. by wouldn't she be happy to have her husband home?
"I don't think you do," Alanis said. "Never mind for now. You here by yourself?"
"Yes."
"I guess you don't have no brother or sister. huh?"
"I have a brother named Ian."