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and dirty backpacks. The weathered women with cynical slants to their bodies made me want to run. One lugged a suitcase behind her on wheels, probably with everything she owned in the world inside it. They robbed me of my voice and scared me a little.
    â€œDon’t hesitate to work her hard. She needs the discipline,” Dad says.
    â€œAll teenagers need discipline,” Stella says.
    I squirm on my chair, the epitome of the privileged white girl. He’s making sure it shows, but maybe he doesn’t realize it exposes him for what he is too. He’s intent on pretending he’s not spoiling me and that he’s in charge. In addition to working at New Beginnings for the rest of the summer, an idea I have no clue how he came up with, he also confiscated my phone. It’s a toss-up which is worse, but he won’t give it back. Not until the end of the summer. I feel almost violated. Sick to my stomach. I’m completely out of touch with everyone and everything. The loss makes me even more alone, if that’s even possible at this point.
    â€œWe’re short on servers right now. Or kitchen helpers.” Stella says it like it’s a question.
    â€œServer,” I immediately say.
    â€œYou’ll work wherever they need you,” my dad snaps and then glances at his watch. “Speaking of, I have to get back to work soon.”
    â€œPlease. Go ahead,” Stella says. “I’ll get the child started. Show her around.”
    She says “child” and it makes me want to act like one. I want to yell and stomp my feet and have a temper tantrum. I’ve got so much anger inside and nowhere to put it, and I shiver, even though the office is warm and it’s hotter than normal outside. A small fan whirrs on Stella’s desk, but it barely stirs up the air.
    My dad stands, pulls his fancy car keys from his pocket, and jangles them on his finger. “I’m heading to Houston today, but I’ll see if Allie will pick you up.” He glances at Stella. “She’ll be done around six?”
    Stella raises an eyebrow. “Day staff and volunteers usually clock out at two or three. She won’t be needed for the dinner service.”
    I breathe out a sigh of relief.
    â€œYou’re sure? That’s not even a full day.”
    â€œWe don’t want to burn our volunteers out,” she tells him. “She can stay late some days if she wants to, but it’s not an obligation.”
    He makes a sound in his throat. It’s not directed at her, but she sits up a little straighter in her seat. “Allie can’t make it at that time,” he says to me. “She’s working.” My sister has a summer job with an engineering firm. She needs work experience to go along with her university degree, but she doesn’t have to do her work for free.
    â€œI’ll take the bus,” I tell him and lift my chin. Pretend it doesn’t make me nervous to be taking a bus from this part of town. I can’t even remember the last time I used public transportation.
    He jangles his keys and glances at Stella, and I can almost read his thoughts. He doesn’t want me taking a bus from this neighborhood either, but he doesn’t want to tell her that.
    â€œShe’ll be fine,” Stella says. “We can have someone walk her to the bus stop if you want.”
    That might be even worse. Dad nods and presses his lips tight. He stares out the door and briefly squeezes my shoulder. I pull away, and he frowns and spins, walking out of the room without a good-bye.
    The air in the office lightens. Some of the chill leaves my skin, and the warmth of the building seeps in. I wrinkle my nose. It smells moldy. Stale. I imagine Nance. At home. Still asleep. With nothing pressing planned for her day except maybe shopping. For clothes and boys. I frown. Angry to be stuck here. Knowing I don’t belong.
    Stella leans back in her chair. “So,”