“Then, when I was twelve, the textile company was shut down. It was sold to someone who took it apart and sold it off like car parts. Three thousand workers were left jobless. My mom didn’t want us to move to the projects, so she worked three jobs to pay the rent and utilities and my brother worked after school to put food on the table. For two years I was practically alone. I hated those two years.”
She quickly swiped at the wetness on her cheek and smiled. “But things got better. Reno went to community college and I finished high school and found a job to help my mom. She wanted me to join Reno, but I wanted to stay home and take care of her for a change.”
Allan felt like there was more to it, but he wasn’t going to push it. It made him feel helpless when she cried and he didn’t like t
