Red Butterfly by A.L. Sonnichsen

Author:A.L. Sonnichsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

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Jody and Willard

sit in the director’s office

side by side

like clay statues.

Jody’s voice is soft,

still not Jody’s.

I’m sorry,

so sorry.

Mom and Dad

weren’t allowed to say good-bye.

The officials were angry

Mom stayed so long without a visa.

They were also angry

that Dad helped her.

He’d been bribing everyone

for years

so Mom could stay.

It’s all my fault.

If I hadn’t gotten sick,

if I’d never come to visit . . .

Willard says,

Now, now,

it’s nobody’s fault.

Everything was bound to fall apart eventually,

and he gives me a look that tells me

I should agree with him

to make Jody feel better.

I don’t know

if I agree

with anybody,

though I hate

to see Jody,

booming

loud

Jody,

quiet

shriveled

crying.

Rain dashes

the window glass.

I imagine Mama

flying away

through this drizzling sky

toward her mountains

without me.

Was she sad to go . . .

or relieved?

I turn that

bitter

question

over

and

over,

a sour lozenge

on my tongue.

The rain quickens,

rattling the pane.

Are you getting enough to eat?

Jody asks.

You look thinner.

Are you brushing your hair?

Maybe you could take me,

I whisper.

Now that I have the paperwork

and an official name.

I mean,

if Mama and Daddy

are in too much trouble . . .

The look that passes between

Jody and Willard

tells me

I’ve said something wrong

again.

I don’t think that’s possible,

sweetie,

says Jody.

The word “sweetie”

doesn’t sound right

coming from Jody’s

mouth.

I nod,

silent

empty,

stare at my hands

until they

leave.

Better that way.

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