9
Kids Say the Darnedest Things
Michelle was beautiful. Even with damp eyes and a red nose, she was stop-you-in-your-tracks gorgeous. Her straight, glossy, dark brown hair was cut in a long, asymmetrical bob that swung forward as she dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.
She stood up as we approached, and I realized she was taller than me. At twelve, that’s rough for a girl. Good grief. Where was my brain? Rough was having your mom disappear with no idea if she was still alive or not. I could feel my eyes to start to burn with sympathetic tears.
Alex touched the small of my back, just for a second, but it was enough for me to remember why we were here. I took a breath and continued forward.
“You’re Mallory and Alex? Francis said you’d want to talk to me about my mom.”
Francis emerged
