Right when the doctor put the first shot in, Mom squeezed back, long and tight.

—

We walked home through the park, and Mom made me laugh by daring every squirrel we saw to bite her, now that she was almost rabies-proof.

—

At Mom’s, I usually worry on my bed, cross-legged, with my back against the wall. That afternoon, I thought about Sonia, whose Skype light was still red. I thought about Jesse’s brother, Mission, and whether my invitation ever got to him. I thought about Angelica. It had been a long time, but Dad said she wasn’t better.

Worrying takes a lot out of me. When I opened my eyes, I was hungry.

In the kitchen, Mom was standing in front of the refrigerator, holding a big container of Dad’s pasta salad. Mom and I both love it. Dad must have left us a food package while we were getting our bat shots.

“Hey,” I said. “Dad came. You didn’t say ‘Box!’ ”

“Box,” she said. And she reached for the salad bowl.

—

Late that night, full of pasta, all I could do was lie in bed and scratch. The places between my fingers and on the backs of my knees were itching like crazy. Finally, I decided to get my ointment from the bathroom cabinet. Mom had made me promise, again, not to use the hot-water trick.

As soon as I opened my bedroom door, I heard Mom’s voice. She was on the phone.

“Of course I’m sure, Daniel. Don’t be ridiculous. This has gone on too long already. No more food boxes.”

—

“I’m sure. We’ll be fine.”

—

“This conversation is over. You’re getting married, Dan—and I can certainly learn how to cook a chicken.”

—

“No, I don’t want you to teach me how to cook a chicken. I’ll figure it out.”

—

“Okay, good. And thanks again. The pasta salad was delicious. Bye.”

News

I was at the kitchen table at Mom’s, doing a word-find and eating tomato soup, when Dad called to say Angelica was going to the hospital.

“Oh, Daniel,” Mom said. “I’m so sorry she isn’t better.”

“Who isn’t?” I said.

Then she said, “Of course. Of course.”

I stood up and said, “What?”

Mom waved at me to wait.

“Yes. She’s right here. I’ll tell her as soon as we hang up.” And then, after a pause, “She may want some things. From your place. What time are you leaving?”

Mom hung up and told me that Angelica needed some tests. But probably she would be fine. Almost definitely.

Uncle Frank and Aunt Ess were taking Angelica to a hospital in Cleveland for a few days, and Dad was flying to Minnesota to stay with James and Jojo.

Jesse would take care of the restaurant and Rocco, Mom said. And I would stay with her until Dad came back.