Free What Happened to My Sister: A Novel by Elizabeth Flock

the day before). I ache watching their smiles melt into looks of concern when Cricket walks up. Many times—more times than not, actually—she is ignored completely, as if grief is contagious. It kills me in a million different ways, knowing this is what Cricket faces on a daily basis.
    Oh good Lord, there’s Evelyn Owens clickety-clacking up to the school door in her high heels and pearls in the middle of the day. And I had to pick today to wear this old pair of JCPenney shorts that make me look fat. I forgot I need to get out of the car—for summer school pickups they make you come inside to personally fetch your child, which is silly and wastes time but those are the rules and I’m not about to do anything to jeopardize Cricket getting the extra help. I believe she got accepted to the program on account of the Chaplin name and because of Eddie. He gives the “stranger danger” talks to the young kids and talks about self-defense to the older ones. They all love Eddie over at the school, so when the insurance company said Cricket’s ADHD medication was no longer covered I had Eddie do some sweettalking to get our girl into the extra-help summer program everybody says is the best in the state for kids with attention issues. Gives kids ways to calm down and focus so they can sit still and do their homework without their minds racing too much. Plus, Eddie and my separation’s been real hard on Cricket and I thought some structure this summer might be just the ticket. The death of a sibling plus ADHD plus separated parents equals one sad child. Take my word for it.
    Of course, Misty Rae failed to predict our firstborn would die of a horrible illness. She failed to predict I’d be so full of rage and grief that I damn near attacked Mrs. Childers from down the street when she said it was God’s will.
    No, Misty Rae didn’t tell me about any of that. Or about thesilence that would descend on our home after the funeral. Which I found ironic because all we wanted to do was scream. She didn’t tell me how people would cross the street to keep from bumping into us—for lack of what to say, I know, but still, it stung. Misty Rae neglected to mention how hurt I’d feel when Eddie completely shut down, then decided to cut short his bereavement leave to go back to work. How it’d tear my heart in two, watching him from bed as he’d get ready to go in each day as if none of it had ever happened. As if he was relieved .
    So why do I keep going to see Misty Rae?
    It’s simple: when the worst happens to one child, you’ll do anything in your power to keep anything bad from happening to the other one.
    The other one, who, when I got laid off and lost my marbles again crying, sidled up to me on the couch and said:
    “It’s okay, Mom. Everything’s going to be okay. You know why? Because we’re Chaplins. And Chaplins …”
    “Always take the high road!” we finished the sentence together.

CHAPTER SIX
    Honor
    “Hey, candy lamb, how was it today? Here, give me that backpack. Honestly, they should make a law against schools loading y’all down with these heavy books. And it’s summer! You hungry? We’ll stop by Wendy’s on the way home.”
    I reach out to rub Cricket’s head and notice that her hair is a rat’s nest. I have to get Mom to cut her hair. Thank God she inherited Mother’s thick hair, though she got the blond from Daddy’s side. It’s the shade women pay a lot of money for at the salon. A gorgeous spun gold that turns baby blond in the summertime. She has no appreciation for it—in fact, she shows no interest in anything girlie at all. She’s a tomboy, start to finish. Ed used to say she’s the son he never had. Her sister had the market cornered on femininity, so Cricket went the other direction early on. Her slight frame doesn’t much lend itself to sports, though God knows that doesn’t stop her from trying out for teams. Volleyball. Soccer. Basketball. Bless her heart, she isn’t any good