This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

The Zebra logo Reg US Pat. & TM Off.
First Kensington Hardcover Edition: June 2022

First Mass Market Edition: September 2022

ISBN: 978-1-4201-5234-0

ISBN: 978-1-4201-5235-7 (ebook)

Dear Diary,

When I started this six months ago, I promised I would write something every day. So much for that idea. It’s been four months since the last entry. I guess I’ve been distracted, looking forward to graduation. Tomorrow is the big day. Can’t wait to get out of here. Don’t know what I am going to be doing, and I got a prob. K. and I have been getting very serious. He’s been hinting about us blowing “Casa Aluminum.” That’s what he calls it. It’s considered a mobile home, but we aren’t going anywhere. Not in this thing. He keeps reminding me. He says he has big ideas. A future with us. Wants to make money but doesn’t have a plan. He tells me to trust him. Do I have a choice? Truth is, I don’t know what I want. That’s a problem. I don’t even know what I like. I suppose I should have put more thought into it, but now here I am, done with high school, and I have no clue what to do next. My head hurts from thinking about it. I sure can’t ask Mom for advice. She’s rarely sober enough to string a sentence together. Forget Dad. He’s out driving his truck somewhere. Yep. Can’t wait to get out of Casa Aluminum. What to do . . . what to do . . .

But there is good news! We’ll have this double-wide to ourselves Saturday. I’m going to have my own graduation party for me and some friends. Mom is going to visit her sister, and Dad isn’t around. But then there’s my brother. With any luck, he’ll take his pizza to his room, pull on his headphones, and zone out. What else does a twelve-year-old do anyway? I’ll give him $20 to stay put and keep his mouth shut.

Bought some aromatherapy candles to set the mood. Wow. This is the most I’ve written all year. Just in case I don’t get back to these pages, here’s to a super weekend, and congratulations to me!

V.C.

Chapter One

Chapter One

The B.A.R.R.N.
Bodman-Antiques-Retro-Restoration & Namaste Café
Buncombe County, North Carolina
Present day