THE PART WHERE I NEGOTIATE ANOTHER DEAL

As Mom headed to my bedroom door, I called out to her.

“What do you need, honey?”

“Can you not call Master Kim just yet?” I asked. “I mean, maybe I can still take the test.”

“But Eliza . . .”

“Can’t we wait and see how I feel? Please?”

Mom frowned. “I don’t want you to push yourself. A bruised coccyx is nothing to mess with.”

“If I take it easy and keep the ice on for the rest of the week?”

“Eliza Nicole Bing resting for a whole week?” Mom teased.

I ignored her. “But what if I do? Then can I?”

“We’ll see,” Mom said. “Now get some sleep.”

We’ll see.

At least there was hope.