Morning light dawned in my bedroom. My duvet had fallen on the floor. The blanket covered a maze of dirty clothes. My phone vibrated. My eyes drooped as I read the e-mail.
Jessie,
Jessie,I need you to come by. Dick
I need you to come by. DickA knot formed in my stomach. My mind went into overdrive.
Was he mad? Would I get scolded? Did he want to pressure me into leaving for a tour sooner rather than later? He’d promised to give me five more weeks. But what if he tried to tangle me up in one more of his schemes to make more money?
Street cleaners cleared Park Street of the city’s dust and trash. Only a few people crisscrossed the road on their way to their destinations. Fresh air blew away my worries. I hoped for the best, but I guarded my emotions.
As I trotted along increased hustli
