I held my breath for a few seconds, waiting to feel that awful punch in the gut I'd anticipated. But it wasn't quite as bad as I thought it'd be. "My parents are dead."
He nodded. "That sucks."
I felt a few more tears trickle out, but I was too distracted by the conversation to wipe them away. "Yeah, it totally sucks. Today, even more so than other days."
Jordan tugged at the leotard in my hand, freeing it from my grip and holding it up like a question.
"My mom got it for me for my birthday."
"Before she died," he finished.
"Before she died," I repeated and then said the worst part over again, "because my parents are dead."
"Say it one more time," Jordan said. "It will get a little easier tomorrow and then we don't have to tap-dance around the great big elephant in the room."
"My parents are dead," I said again and for some reason I started laughing. More like crying and laughing at the same time.
Jordan stood up again and let me exit the laundry room, following me. "So, I'm guessing you're not really sick? My dad called and said to check on you. See if you needed me to clean up vomit."
"That was nice of him. He gives you all the best chores."
"No kidding," Jordan grumbled. "You aren't going to barf, are you?"
"Between you and me—no. But—"
"If my dad asks, it was coming out of every opening possible," Jordan finished.
I wrinkled my nose. "Eh, thanks?"
Mom,
I just said it out loud. I can't believe how real it felt. And now my leotard is ruined because I have no clue how to do laundry. Well, I must have some clue because it didn't take long to figure out that I probably should have separated the light and the dark clothes. Why didn't you teach me any of this stuff? Did you anticipate being around all the time? Are you invincible? Obviously not. Don't you think it might have been a good idea to teach me certain important life skills like laundry? If you had, I wouldn't have ruined my birthday present. I wouldn't have had to stand in Coach Bentley's laundry room crying. What if Jordan tells his dad and then Bentley decides that he can't handle me and sends me to Grandma's?
Love, Karen
Jordan,
Thank you for making me say it out loud. Your mom is gone, right? What happened? Did you know her very well or were you too young when she died?
--Karen
List for Jackie—Possible reasons Coach Bentley let me live with him
1. It's much easier to have 4 elites in the gym than 3...odd numbers are terrible for partnering during conditioning. The coach always has to pair up with one of us.
2. His chances of getting an athlete on the World Championship Team are doubled if I stick around.
3. Stevie could decide to retire again any day now and he'd only have two kids to coach.
4. He needed someone around to tattle on Jordan.
YOU ARE READING
Letters to Nowhere #1 (Completed!)
Teen FictionI've gotten used to the dead parents face. I've gotten used to living with my gymnastics coach. I've even adjusted to sharing a bathroom with his way-too-hot son. Dealing with boys is not something that's made it onto my list of experiences as of ye...
