The New Girl in the House

The New Girl in the House

Don comes home early.  There’s a new girl living in his house.  She’s Ally's sister’s kid.  She’s been here for a few days.  He isn’t used to her sounds (or lack of sound).  The place is too quiet and the girl, Emily, she’s too quiet too.

“I’m going to the store,” he says.  “Wanna come?”  It is all he can think of to ask.  Emily seems out of it.  Her mind is someplace else.  Maybe it’s the kid he once was, the one that never got asked to go places with his dad like his brother did, maybe this kid, this long ago Don is the reason he asks her anything at all.

I’m not a father, and I’m not her father.  I just want a sandwich, that’s all.

“Want to go?”  He asks again.  She seems to have heard him this time.  Her eyes focus on him instead of on the door.

“I’ll go,” she says.  But she keeps glancing back at the front door as if she expects to hear the doorbell ring.

“Is someone coming over?” He asks.  He doesn't imagine Emily would make friends that fast, besides he has heard her talking in her room some nights to someone and he thinks – is this ghost dad?  This guy named Eddie, a real winner Emily’s father (or so he’s heard from Ally).

Don isn’t really expecting Emily to answer him about why she keeps looking at the front door.

“Want anything for your lunch, bread, peanut butter, chips?"

She shakes her head.  “I buy,” she says.  He detects the edge in her voice.  He can’t help it, as a salesman, he is trained.

“Anything good in the high school food court these days?”

“The desserts are okay,” she says.  “Although the brownies are dry, they almost always have Oreos in packs.  But they never make anything with cookies and brownies together.  They don't leave chocolate syrup on the table.  And there are days when you need big food.”

It is the most she has said to him at one time.

“Is today like that?”

Emily nods her head.

“Should I buy extra ice cream?”

“Ally gives me money, and Grizzly takes care of the rest.  There really isn’t any need.”