Chapter 12
Ms. Johnson was still awake, sitting by her door waiting for me.[]
“Raven’s homer“]
She saw me and her whole face lit up.[]
“Ms. Johnson.”
I dropped my bag and hugged her.
She felt so much smaller, her hair completely white now.
“You got skinny.“]
She touched my face. “Not eating right at school, huh?”
“I ate fine. Just studying too much.“[
“Get into a good college?“]
“Yeah, Stanford.“]
“Good! Good!”
She pulled me inside. “Ms. Johnson made your favorite–braised pork.“[]
That meal, I cried the whole time I was eating.
Not from emotion–from the spice.[]
Ms. Johnson’s taste buds were shot from old age. She’d dumped in way too much chili.[]
But I ate every single bite.[]
That night I shared her bed, listening to her ramble about neighborhood gossip-
Who got married, who had babies, whose chickens laid double–yolk eggs.]]
Just everyday stuff, but I hung on every word.[]
THIS was real life.]
No mind games, no fake drama. Just simple living.[]
“Raven,” Ms. Johnson suddenly asked, “your birth parents treating you okay?“[]
I paused: “You know about that?”
“Saw it on TV.” She sighed. “The Whitmores–big fancy family.“[]
“Yeah.”
“They… they love you?”
I was quiet for a while: “They love the foster daughter more.“[]
Ms. Johnson squeezed my hand: “My poor Raven.“]
It’s okay.” I squeezed back. “As long as I have you, it’s okay “[]
Life in my hometown was peaceful.[]
Every morning Ms Johnson and I hit the farmer’s market, cooked lunch together, sat in the sun in the afternoon, watched TV at night.[]
No Savannah’s performances, no Whitmores drama, no stress.]
Until Christinas Eve when Mason tracked me down.[]
Chapter 12
He looked like hell, standing at the gate in his wrinkled suit.]]
“What are you doing here?” I was shocked.[]
He was breathing hard, eyes all bloodshot: “Why aren’t you coming home for Christmas?”
“This IS my home.“]]
He glanced around the run–down little courtyard, frowning: “This place…“]]
“I told you, this IS my home.“]]
“RAVEN!” He was getting heated, eyes all bloodshot. “Mom and Dad are waiting for you!“[]
“Let them wait.” __
I turned to go inside.[]
He grabbed my arm: “How long are you gonna keep this up?“]
“I’m not keeping anything up.”[]
Ishook him off. “You guys are the ones who keep bothering me.”
Just then, Ms. Johnson came out: “Raven, who’s this?“]
“Ms. Johnson,” I steadied her, “nobody important. Just some random guy.“[]
Mason’s face went dark.[]
Ms. Johnson looked at him, then at me: “This is Raven’s brother, right? Come in and sit.“[]
“No need.” I said.]
Ms. Johnson insisted: “It’s Christmas Eve, honey. Don’t leave him standing in the cold.“[]
Mason followed us inside.[]
Ms. Johnson poured him water, then made an excuse about cooking dinner, leaving us alone.
“Who’s the old lady?“[]
“The woman who raised me.”
“I thought she was just your foster parents‘ neighbor?”
“Yes.” I looked at him. “But she was closer to me than any of my so–called relatives.“[]
He went quiet.
“Mason,” I said, “you Whitmores have everything–power, money, status. The only thing you never gave me was a sense of HOME.“[]
“We”
}
“And here,” I looked around, “it’s old and falling apart, but someone actually loves me here, actually cares about me. THIS is home.“[]
He stared at me with this complicated expression.[]
“So quit coming here.“[]
My voice was inore sincere than it had ever been.[]
“Let me have a decent Christmas, okay?”
Mason finally left.
Before going, he shoved an envelope at Ms. Johnson, saying it was “a little something.“]
Ms. Jolinson didn’t want to take it.]]
He stuffed it in her hands and ran off.
Chapter 17
That night. Ms. Johnson opened the envelope.[]
A credit card.[]
And a note: This is Raven’s living allowance. Password is her birthday. Please help keep it safe[]
Don’t know how much was on that card.]]
But next day Ms. Johnson had me mail it back.[]
“Not ours to keep” She said.[]
I went to the post office like she asked, but didn’t actually mail it.]]
This money–I was gonna use it for Ms. Johnson’s retirement.]]
Td gone back to the Whitmores before just to put Mrs. Johnson’s mind at ease.]
Trom day one, 1 knew there was no way I’d ever truly be accepted by that family.
