Manman had been in the van with him, but she was all right.

When Papa finally spoke, it was to ask where Moy was.

I told him Moy had gone out.

“Out where?” he asked.

“Probably running again,” Manman said.

“So late?” Papa asked, looking at the clock on the living room wall. It was almost midnight.

“I’m sure he’ll be back soon,” Manman said.

We all sat down in the living room to wait for Moy’s return.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Moy did not come back until about 6:00 a.m. this morning. Papa must have carried me to bed because I woke up in my room to the sound of Moy and Papa yelling at one another.

I walked out to the living room to see Papa and Moy with their faces within inches of each other’s. They looked like they were going to get into one of those fights that Moy had been in so often in Léogâne.

Manman was standing between them, trying to keep them apart.

“Where were you?” Papa was shouting.

“I didn’t know I was coming to prison here,” Moy shouted back.

“If you’re too grown to live here, then get out!” Papa said.

It was then that Moy must have finally noticed the small bandage on Papa’s forehead.

“What happened to your head?” he asked Papa.

“If you cared what happened to any of us,” Papa said, “you would have been here at home with your sister.”

“Victor,” Manman said. “Please lower your voice.” Then turning to Moy, she whispered, “Your father hit a car with the van. It’s a small cut.”

Moy walked over to the couch, sat down, and buried his face in his hands. I could tell he was feeling bad for what happened to Papa and even worse that he hadn’t been here all night.

Papa turned away from both Manman and Moy and walked to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, I followed him there and found him sitting at the table with his face lowered against the edge of the table. When he heard my footsteps, he raised his head. He was crying.

I walked over and put my hand on his shoulder. I thought he would push it away, but he just let it rest there for a while until he stopped crying.

Then he got up, went back to the living room, and told Moy to leave the house immediately, go back to wherever he had spent the night.

Manman begged Moy not to leave, but Moy picked up his bag and walked out.

LATER

I spent the whole day at school thinking about Moy. I hope he is safe wherever he is. He is probably with that girl, the girl at whose house he has been painting. I hope he is okay.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6

Papa did not leave the house today. I took the bus to school by myself.

No word from Moy.