Albert tells me he is worried
about his grandmother.
She hasn’t been feeling well.
She is going to the hospital for tests.
He tells me Megan’s parents
are thinking about sending her
to the new private school.
Megan doesn’t want to go.
She wants to stay at Hamilton,
where all her friends are.
And Kyra’s favorite cousin
didn’t invite Kyra to
her birthday sleepover.
“How come I didn’t know
any of this?” I ask.
Albert shrugs.
“Come on,” I say. “Tell me.”
He looks at me. Looks away.
“Maybe because you’re only paying attention
to yourself.”