Chapter 4
During the first week Anna moved in, she didn't call me.
She only sent me three photos.
The first was of fried chicken.
The second was of iced latte.
The third was of her lying on the couch, watching something on her tablet.
The caption read: [Mom, I'm doing fine.]
I replied with two words.
[Got it.]
She didn't reply again.
But Anna's homeroom teacher, Ms. Parker, did message me.
[Ms. Veyra, Anna has missed a few assignments these past couple of days.]
[She said she's still adjusting after moving.]
I forwarded the message to James.
[Ms. Parker said Anna hasn't been turning in all her assignments.]
James didn't reply for half an hour.
[She just moved in with me. What's the big deal if she takes it easy for a couple of days?]
[Stop hovering over her all the time.]
I didn't say anything else.
The next week, Ms. Parker sent another photo.
It was Anna's math test, with two major questions left unanswered.
There was a note in red pen beside them.
[Parent signature required.]
I forwarded the photo to James.
He didn't reply this time.
At 9:30 PM, Anna sent me a voice message.
There was a lot of noise in the background.
Grace was shouting, "Where's the bottle?"
Mary was saying, "Mom, my stomach hurts."
The TV was blaring.
Anna kept her voice down.
"Mom, could you maybe sign my math test for me?" Anna asked.
I sat alone at the table, having dinner.
Half a bowl of pasta sat untouched in front of me.
"Is your dad there?" I asked.
"He's working late," Anna replied.
"Grandma?" I asked.
"Grandma doesn't know how to check it," Anna replied.
"What about Mary?" I asked.
She paused.
"She said she's not feeling well," Anna said.
I said, "You're living with your dad now.
"Let your dad sign it."
She sounded anxious.
"But it's due tomorrow," Anna said.
I asked, "What time did you start your homework today?"
She didn't answer.
I waited.
After a long pause, she whispered, "A little after eight."
"Why so late?" I asked.
Anna said, "Grandma asked me to go grocery shopping with her.
"Then she had me grab something for Mary.
"When I got back, I wanted to start my homework, but a package with my little brother's clothes showed up, and Grandma asked me to open it.
"By then, it was already late."
I didn't scold her.
I just said, "Take a photo of the questions you're stuck on and send them to your dad.
"Let him teach you."
Her voice dropped even lower.
"Dad said he's out with colleagues for work," Anna said.
I said, "Just wait for your dad to come back."
"Mom," Anna called.
She called me softly.
Her voice was gentle.
She always called me like that whenever she wanted me to soften up.
My hand froze on my fork.
I said, "Anna, the freedom you wanted doesn't mean I'm not here for you.
"This is the life you and your dad and grandma decided on together.
"So when you run into problems, you need to handle them at your dad's place first."
There was silence on the other end.
She didn't see that coming.
After a long pause, Anna mumbled, "Okay."
She hung up.
I dumped the rest of the pasta into the trash.
My heart ached for her.
It was just that I couldn't go pick her up right now.
Kids sometimes just don't understand how things work.
She only cared about the sweetness she could taste right now.
So I'd let her deal with the consequences once the sweetness fades.
In the third week, Anna showed up late to school twice.
Ms. Parker called me.
Ms. Parker said, "Ms. Veyra, Anna said no one woke her up in the morning."
I said, "Her dad's the one taking care of her now.
"I've already given you James's number."
Ms. Parker sighed.
Ms. Parker said, "I know.
"But he hardly ever picks up his phone.
"Anna's been having a tough time lately."
I said, "Just do whatever you need to do.
"If she's late, just mark her late.
"If you need to call a parent in, call James."
Ms. Parker fell silent for a few seconds.
Ms. Parker asked, "Are you really not going to try and talk some sense into her first?"