“What did I tell you about changing that text tone?!” I’m guessing she told me to change it. But that’s just a guess because I’d have to be paying attention to know the answer.

My real mom died when I was less than a year old. I look at pictures of her and I feel like I remember her, but I really was too young. Dad remarried when I was about five and, well, I guess now instead of a mother I’ve got an Estelle.

“You better get in here before that gross noise . . .” BUURRRRRPPPPPP!!!

Bones was firing out texts faster than a semi-automatic paint gun while I was getting peppered by my stepmother. This was prime summer sleep time, and I was getting robbed.

What was the big dope doing? He probably wanted to tell me he got the high score on Donkey Kong. What idiot do you know plays video games from the dinosaur age?

“CJ, if I hear that dreadful noise again, you’re going to lose your phone for a week!”

One week without a phone would be worse than going to Mars without oxygen. I got up from the big leather couch that had basically swallowed me the night before and shuffled into the kitchen.

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