As my writing happiness trickled away, all of my annoyances came back. What was I going to do about Colin? Why did Sierra have such an easy time charming people? Why was Molly’s turning into a music-themed rocker hangout? Why did Tamiko have to go away for so long, and right when I needed her most?

To procrastinate, I went back onto the sixteen personalities site. I wanted to see if I could dig out some good qualities associated with my type, or maybe some strategies to handle all my shortcomings. I had just gotten going when I was interrupted.

“Allie! Dinner!” called my mom.

I stomped out of my room and down the creaky stairs to the kitchen. My mom’s new house was vintage and beachy, unlike my dad’s all-new, renovated warehouse loft-style apartment with a pool on the top of the building. I liked both and felt lucky that I got to enjoy the two different lifestyles, but my mom’s house was better for stomping. At my dad’s there were neighbors underneath, so we had to be considerate.

In the kitchen Tanner was already at the table, his grubby hands and stained T-shirt just totally unappetizing. I slid into my chair with a huff.

“Mom, does this kid ever bathe?” I asked. “He’s filthy!” I knew I was being snotty, but I felt real pleasure in being mean to him just then.

He looked at me innocently, then examined his hands and arms. He looked back at me again, confused, as if he didn’t even see the streaks of dirt and the dark crust under his fingernails. “What?” he said, blinking.

I rolled my eyes.

My mom came to the table with a platter of Chicken Milanese—thin, salty cutlets, breaded and then fried until crispy, served with lemon slices for squeezing on top—and a bowl of fresh dressed salad. “Tanner, please go wash your hands before you eat. And I want you to take a long bath after dinner.”

Tanner groaned, but he stood up and went to the sink to wash his hands. “I’ll take a bath, but only if I can watch a movie while I do it.”

My mom had started bribing him to bathe. She would set up her laptop on the closed lid of the toilet, and he could download a show or movie to watch while he was in the tub. Talk about spoiled!

“Most humans enjoy being clean,” I said as I lifted a piece of chicken and then a scoop of salad onto my plate. I wouldn’t let his grossness ruin my meal, though. Chicken Milanese was one of my favorite dinners, and my mom made it really well. I loved the combo of the crisp, hot chicken and the cold, bitter salad, all in one bite.