If he went home there would just be chores--homework and laundry and dinner to cover what he couldn't hear in the house. Mom's bedroom was empty. There was just the big bare brass bedframe in the middle of the floor. Lucy had gotten rid of the sheets and the mattress, and the floor around the bed was very clean. He didn't know what to do with the clothes.
Jonah wondered what the two of them had said about him in that room. Had they wondered if he would be all right, if he could handle it when she was gone? Was that what those murmurs down the hall were? "His father will send him money. He'll be all right. He'll survive."
"Hi."
Jonah looked up. It was Mary again.
"Hello," he said this time. He wanted to say more, something spontaneous, just open his mouth and let his thoughts spill, like Mom had told him to, but now that he was willing there was nothing in him anymore. He just put his feet down to let her by. She hesitated, then dropped her book bag and sat next to him.
"Is your mom okay?"
Jonah watched her and shook his head, hearing the sounds of the room around them. What was she doing? That was her boyfriend, right there, watching them. Why wasshe sitting here?
"My mom died," he said.
Mary looked at him.
Jonah sank in his seat and something sank inside him too. Now he wanted cry. To lean over on Mary's shoulder and touch her, and just cry.
Mary looked at him. Mom was gone. Who could he describe that look to? How
was he ever going to hold the memory of it now?
~