Eighteen
Cassie
“Push harder, Cody.” I lifted my legs then quickly pulled them back and leaned forward, trying to build momentum on the swing.
When Miguelito and Selena’s plastic swing set broke, they’d cried for days, begging their dad to buy another one. Mandi’s parents were watching every penny and didn’t have anything to spare. I wished there was something more I could do for them. Over the past few months, I’d gotten so close to Mandi’s family, I thought of them as my own. I had even started calling Mandi’s parents “Mama Flor” and “Papa Manuel.” The small amount I made at the Piggly Wiggly and had forced into Papa Manuel’s hand was not nearly enough.
When I had explained to Cody what happened, he immediately set to work. Before I knew it, he and Nic were on the tree tying a couple
