CHAPTER 26Jessie
One afternoon a few months later, Jessie burst through the back door into the kitchen, her backpack halfway off her shoulders already. She unzipped it and plunged her hand inside, pulling out a slightly crumpled piece of paper. She held it out to Sarah, who stood at the counter, unloading the dishwasher.
“I need you to sign this form,” Jessie said.
Sarah looked up.
“What’s that?”
“I want to run cross country next year. They made an announcement today at school—there’s a meeting next week. All I need is to get a physical and for a parent to sign this form.”
“Could you close the door please, Jessie? The air-conditioning’s on.”
“Would you sign it?” Jessie said, holding the paper out to Sarah with one hand and pulling the door closed behind her. “So I can run cross coun
