“Same here,” Elizabeth said.“I’m going to circulate while you get acquainted,” I said.They began talking and I turned to go back into the ho...se. I saw Maria Cristina who looked at me with a question on her face and I nodded. I went upstairs and knocked on Birgit’s door.I was sitting on the floor of my room listening to everyone having a good time and feeling sad when someone knocked on my door. I wondered if one of my friends had come to say ‘hello’, but that would only make me sadder because. “Mom? About last night.”His mom didn’t stop moving, “What about last night, Sweetie?”This was proving harder than he thought it should.“My bedroom?”This time Lisa stopped, “Honey, what are you talking about?”Had the whole thing been a dream? Josh shook his head. That was no dream. A hallucination, maybe? Josh pictured a brain tumor throbbing within his brain.“It’s nothing, Mom. I better get ready for school.”“Ok then, Josh. I guess I’ll see you when I get home tonight.”The day seemed to drag on. “I can’t do anything about you living here, but you keep your goddamn hands off him.”“Why are you so fucking defensive about your fucking brother? It’s not like he’s your boyfriend!” Rebecca said. I froze, silently praying that Julie would keep her mouth shut. Please, for the love of God, don’t let her spill it …“I just don’t want you poisoning his mind!” Julie shouted back. What exactly would she poison my mind with? It sounded like Julie was running out of comebacks. Just quit while you have. “Hey ... the gas gauge is working. I haven’t got much, but it is working. Thank you.” It was the second hint of enthusiasm from the girl.Jesse opened the glove box and the light came on as expected. “I think that should put an end to your problems. When was the last time you had this car serviced?”“I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t remember.”“How long have you owned the car?”“About three years. It was used, but it was all I could afford,” she explained.“Okay. While we’re here let’s have a look.