“HEY, SUGAR.” I walk across the room jiggling. “What you want, sugar?” I stick gum in my mouth so he don’t smell my sour breath. He on the bed in the middle of the room—undressing. Says he wants to watch me undress too. I already done worked four hours. Got ten more to go. I smile really big ’cause I gotta. I taught myself to ignore some things: faded wallpaper, dirty sheets, holes in the rugs, screams up the hall. Sometimes, I think about Cricket—and smile. Soon as we start, I close my eyes and see me and Maleeka back at school—cutting in the halls. She laughing. I’m laughing. We both happy for once.