2021 riverrun Final PDF

swings. They read books. Until Ms. Kimbly drove them home. She remembered the
parent-teacher conference that Mom had to take off work for. How Dad had been
scribbling in his notebook throughout the meeting. How he had sat down in the passenger
side seat to wait for us to stop talking on the curb.
She remembered how Mom had a screaming fight with Dad when she tried
to take him for a walk. Yet, she remembered Mom pouring over the notes Dad had
taken throughout the night. She remembered Mom staring at Dad from out the window.
She remembered Mom crying and holding her and her sister. Her tears were
salty and light like fabric softener.
Then the book came out. Mom read it, Amy read it, Emily read it, and read
it, and read it, and read it, and read it. Book club was about it, Mom took her and
Amy one time so we could see what it was like. A bunch of not-spring chickens sat
around a nonexistent table and spouted their opinions on this generation’s best
drama/thriller before turning to her Mom and asking what she thought about their
thoughts.
She remembered her Mom offering to take her and her sister to the same
place at the same time next week. She said “no,” three times, and a week later, her
Mom and sister were gone. A police officer came by and told Emily there had been
an accident, Dad was still on the computer at the time; and a month later CPS put
her in foster care; and a month after that her Dad was gone. Decker had reached out
15 years later.
Decker spoke. “I wish I could go back. I had so much fun.” Then he realized
what he said.
Emily watched Decker break. He slumped to the floor and cried. He cried the
tears of a man who had been filled with only tears for most of his life. He cried like
the world was ending. He cried until there was a wet spot in the carpet. He cried
until he ran out of tears, and a little bit after. The pen rolled out of his fingers.
Emily reached for the pen.
Decker saw her reach and spoke.
“Don’t.”
Emily didn’t stop. It was a nice pen after all.
“NO!”
Decker snatched the pen.
Emily snarled, “Give it to me!”
Decker retreated to the table. The paper scattered as Emily chased.
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