there wasn’t a better choice.
They just started Pleasant Valley
Elementary, the same school I went
to at their age. The transition has
been difficult. Okay, that’s putting
it mildly. Vegas to Reno is like Palm
Springs to Placerville. Low desert
heat to foothill chill. And that’s just
the beginning. After mostly running
roughshod over Kristina, adapting
to Mom and Dad’s rules is sort of like
a homeless guy going through boot camp.
I am, in turn, sorry for them and pissed
as hell that they have no idea how
to take care of my stuff—the stuff
I had to leave behind when I moved
in with Nikki. I knew I could talk
her into it. I’m a born politician.
THE NIGHT SHE THOUGHT
She kicked me out, I sat in the dark on
her porch, waiting for her to come
home. It was a long, cold wait. But
I wasn’t about to let us flame out
because of a little fight.
Especially not
one about my
previous mom.
So I zipped up
my jacket and
waited her out. When she