“Donnie, come in here.”
I stick my head in Karen’s room and say, “You’re anorexic.”
“Very funny. Shut up and come in.”
I go in.
“How was school?”
I shrug and flop down on her bed.
“It was fine.”
She hits me with her pillow.
“Donnie, I’ve been home with Mom all day. I’m going out of my mind. You have to tell me how your day was. Tell me a story.”
“I told you, it was fine.”
“Don’t make me hurt you.”
Before, when she was well, I would have made her try. Now, even though I whisper to myself that she’s getting better, I am afraid I’ll hurt her.
“It was good. The twins waited till I was off the bus and then they yelled at me out the window.”
I’ve told Karen about the twins. I told her a lot of things.
“No shit! Really? What was it today?”
“They said, ‘Cheerio pip pip!”
Karen laughs. “They sound awesome! You should be friends with them.”
I shrug. “I’ve never even talked to them.”
“Whatever. You have that whole ‘good-bye’ game thing. That’s good for at least one conversation.”
I shrug.
“Donnie, only assholes disappear.”