It is my first morning of high school. I have seven new notebooks, a skirt I hate, and a stomachache.
Laurie Halse AndersonDid you read last nights assignments?" Say "yes'" and get hammered again. Say "no'" and the same thing would happen.
Laurie Halse AndersonEating plain toast will detonate her. "I'll have some honey." When the bread is done I scrape on a microscopic layer of it and pour a cup of coffee, black. She pretends not to listen or watch as I crunch through my breakfast. I pretend that I don't notice her pretending.
Laurie Halse AndersonI am a gluttonous, gorging failure. A waste. My body isnโt used to high-sugar carbs laced with witchcraft. It can barely cope with soup and crackers.
Laurie Halse AndersonWe're good at taking care of little kids, and spend a lot of energy teaching them things like how to read. But when kids get as tall as their parents and can look them in the eyes, we tend to drop the ball - at a time they most need a loving consistent community of adults, be it parents, aunts, uncles, or others.
Laurie Halse Anderson