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asked.
    I smiled my thanks that she didn’t mess up my game by telling Allen about my curfew.
    â€œHey, Candy,” Allen said.
    â€œHey,” she said, not even bothering to look at him.
    â€œOh, it’s like that?” he said. “You can’t show me no love?” He stretched his arms out, waiting for a hug.
    â€œNo, I can’t,” she said with an attitude. She turned and walked away. “You coming, Courtland?”
    â€œI’ve got to get up early tomorrow,” I said, wondering if my excuse sounded as lame as it felt. “I’ll see you at school next week.”
    I hurried over to Candy. “What was that about?” I asked.
    â€œTrust me, you don’t even want to know.”
    Â 
    When we pulled up to the house, Daddy’s unmarked squad car was in the driveway, which surprised me. Momma said he had been working a lot of overtime lately, but I didn’t really believe it.
    â€œI’ll see you guys on Monday,” I said, as my teammates chorused goodbye.
    The house was quiet when I walked in, and for some reason it scared me. Whenever I went out with my friends, Momma waited up for me, and although I pretended I didn’t like it, it was something I expected.
    â€œWhere you been?” Daddy asked from the darkness of our den.
    â€œI went out with my friends. Didn’t Momma tell you?” I asked.
    He didn’t respond. I heard ice clinking in a glass, and I knew he was drinking. I hated it when he drank.
    â€œWhere’s Momma?” I asked.
    â€œSomewhere upstairs,” he muttered.
    â€œDo you have to go back to work?” I asked, trying to make conversation as I turned on the hallway light.
    Daddy and I rarely talked, and when we did, it seemed as though I was always the one initiating the conversation.
    â€œNah,” he said.
    â€œWhere’s your car?” I asked.
    He glanced at me like I was annoying him. “Why?” he asked.
    â€œI was just asking,” I said.
    â€œI had an accident, so I have the squad car until I get it fixed.”
    I didn’t even bother to ask if he was okay. “Good night,” I said and headed upstairs. Cory was already asleep, and I found Momma in her room reading her Bible.
    I knocked on the partially open door. “I’m back,” I said.
    She smiled. “Did you have a good time?” she asked.
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    â€œWhere’d you guys go?”
    I told Momma about my evening, and although I knew she was listening, her mind seemed to be somewhere else.
    â€œYou okay?” I finally asked.
    â€œI’m fine, baby,” she said.
    â€œWhat did you and Cory do after the game?”
    â€œNothing much. I was trying to get ready for church tomorrow. Don’t forget we have to be there early for the annual prayer breakfast.”
    I nodded, trying to hide a yawn.
    â€œWhy don’t you get to bed? You’ve had a long day.”
    â€œOkay,” I agreed. I walked over to give her a hug.
    She didn’t bother to respond. “Momma, are you okay, really?” I asked, searching her eyes.
    She patted my hand. “There’s nothing for you to worry about, sweetie. Everything is fine.”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” I said. “Good night.” I turned to leave then swung back around and gave her a hug. “I love you, Momma.”
    She squeezed me so hard I thought my ribs would break. “I love you, too, baby.”
    I got ready for bed, all the while thinking about Momma, trying to figure out why she stayed with Daddy. From what I could see, she didn’t love him—I mean they rarely spent time together, and any time Daddy was home, the house was filled with tension. She had a job, so she couldn’t use not having money as an excuse. I just didn’t understand, and deep down, I didn’t want to.
    Â 
    It didn’t take me long to get dressed for school Monday morning since I had picked out my