My sister found out that Fisherman’s dad is on long-term disability after he got hurt at work, and his mom is a secretary at the biggest church in town. Fisherman has a box turtle named Yoda and a cat named Pauly.

“You want to be a biologist?” asked my sister, I guess because of the turtle and cat.

Fisherman smiled and looked like a completely different person. I realized I’d almost never seen him look anything other than worried or mad before. “It would be cool to study biology,” he said. “But there’s no money for school. We lost our old place a few years ago. Getting set up again took the college money.” His face went back to looking worried.

“I’m sorry,” said my sister. “Don’t give up, okay?”

“Thanks,” said Fisherman.

And I thought: who are these people? It felt like my mom and sister were every bit as cool as my dad, just in a different way.

When we left breakfast, my mom told us to have fun and be safe, and even though things were the same as before, and my dad was still a power shamer and we had no money, somehow everything felt better, maybe from all the carbs and all the talking.

We rode our bikes to Ben’s and he loaned me a mountain bike. I didn’t want to have to tell my mom I can’t ride a BMX long distances. I also didn’t want her to feel bad that she can’t afford to get me a second bike. After we picked up the mountain bike we headed onto the trails that lead to the base of the butte.

Before we got very far, Ben had to fix a flat tire. Fisherman and I sat on a log while he worked.

“You see your old man?” asked Ben, who was bent over his bike.

“Yeah.”

“How’d it go?”

“Okay, I guess.”

Neither of them said anything.

“He screwed up,” I said. “He did stupid things with some…people. Some women.”

“Maybe they’re doing false accusations,” said Fisherman. “That happens sometimes.”

I stared at my dirty runners and thought about Isbell and my sister and my mom.

“He did it,” I said.

“That sucks, man,” said Fisherman.

“My mom always says that a good man is respectful,” said Ben, looking up from his bike. Then he looked quickly at me. “I’m not saying that your dad…”

I nodded. “Your mom and my sister are right. My dad has issues. My sister says he’s a power shamer.”

They laughed. “Your sister’s funny,” said Fisherman. “But, man, does she dress bad.”

“Yeah. You should see her friends.”

“You got to make your own way,” said Ben. “You got to trust yourself.”

“I think my dad’s planning to apologize for what he did. But they’re suing him.”

“At least if he apologizes, he’ll feel better,” said Ben.