They Gave My Sister My Room, Now They've Lost Everything novel · Chapter 21 of 24
Chapter 21: Dad at the Gate
By noon on Friday the front steps of the hall held about a hundred first-years eating sandwiches out of paper bags.
I sat on the third step with a bottle of water, and Luca sat one step below me with his back against my knees.
Franco had said he would come, and he came, and stood at the railing with his arms crossed.
My roommate had arrived on Wednesday, a tall girl from Ohio who had heard the whole story from the third floor by Thursday.
She sat next to me and said, "Is this the thing?"
"This is the thing."
"Do I need to do anything?"
"Just eat your sandwich."
Dad's truck pulled up to the curb at five past twelve.
He got out in his church jacket.
His eyes were red already, which was unfair, because he had not yet said a word.
He walked through the groups of first-years with his hands open at his sides, and they parted for him.
Mom stayed in the passenger seat.
In the back, behind tinted glass, I could see a pink sweater.
"Elena," Dad said, at the bottom of the steps.
His voice cracked on my name.
A girl near the railing stopped chewing.
"Elena, I'm your father."
"I know who you are."
"I've lost my job." He swallowed. "I've lost my name in the town. In three weeks, I lose the house, and your mother is sleeping in a chair because she can't make herself go upstairs. I have nothing left to threaten you with, and I'm not here to threaten you."
"Then why are you here?"
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