She’s waiting for me in the hall when I come out.

“How could you?”

“Ellie, listen—”

“Why should I listen to you when you never listen to me?”

“Honey, I know you don’t want an aide, but—”

“Of course I don’t want an aide! I don’t want an aide because I don’t need an aide!” I bump up against the wall with my wheel in that way Mom hates because it leaves scuff marks.

She kneels down in front of me so we’re eye to eye. I stop moving.

“Ellie, we don’t know what this new school is like. We don’t know how equipped they are to handle you.”

“To handle me?”

Mom rocks back and sits on her heels, and now I’m looking down at all the tiny lines around her eyes.

“Yes, Ellie. Handle you. I’m sorry if that sounds harsh or demeaning, but it is my job to protect you. It is my job to make sure you are safe and looked after, even if you don’t like it.”

I want to cry, but that would be babyish, right?

“It’s not fair.”

“No, it’s not. None of this is.” She waves her arms toward the front door, where our suitcases are waiting. “But we’re all going to look out for one another, okay? You, me, Mema, and Grandpa.”

I know I should tell Mom how scared I am to start at a new school. That it’s not just about the aide. What if I don’t make a single friend? What if I’m just the crippled kid all over again? I’m scared about moving in with my grandparents, too. What if Grandpa gets worse, or Mema says she doesn’t want our help and we’ve already quit our whole lives to move there? But I look at Mom, and man, she looks tired, like she could curl up and sleep right here on the floor, so I just say, “Okay,” and roll back to my almost-empty room.

3 Road Trip

Dear Dad,

I’m writing from the road. Don’t worry. I’m not driving (ha, ha).

We’re on our way to Oklahoma, as you know. Mom said I had to email you and wish you Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Okay, now she says I have to say more than that.

Tap-tap-tapping because I can’t think of anything.

Okay, how’s the weather? Just kidding, we left ten minutes ago.

Really, though, I’m good. Wheels are good. See you in the summer.

Ellie

It’s already been more than three hours and we’re only just nearing Memphis. Tennessee is so freaking long.