Free A Work of Art by Melody Maysonet

being stupid,” I snapped. “He’ll be out of there soon and then you’ll see how stupid you’re being.”
    â€œFunny.” She reached for the afghan on the back of the couch and pulled it onto her lap. “I was thinking the same about you.”
    Her words dug in like barbs. I wanted to rip them out and throw them at her.
    â€œI didn’t get a job to help you ,” I said. “You’re the one who called the police. You’re the reason he’s in jail.”
    â€œHere you go again.” Her eyelids fluttered. “Always taking his side.”
    â€œI got the job because I hired a lawyer,” I said. “And the lawyer’s expensive.”
    I waited for a reaction, but she seemed engrossed in Dr. Phil.
    â€œSo I won’t be going to Paris in the fall,” I said.
    That got a reaction. A muscle in her cheek twitched. “What about your scholarship?”
    â€œI asked for a deferral.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œIf they say yes, then my scholarship will still be good for next year.”
    â€œAnd what if they say no?”
    â€œI don’t know, Mom. They won’t say no. The website said they offer deferrals for up to two years.”
    She curled her hands into the afghan and lifted it to her chest. “I suppose you want me to congratulate you? Because you threw away your future?”
    â€œI didn’t throw it away. I’ll still go, just not in the fall. And I’m helping my dad. That’s what family does.”
    â€œThat’s a sweet sentiment, Tera. But you’re helping the wrong person.”
    Anger made my chest hurt. It was her vindictiveness that had caused this whole thing. “You wanted me to give the money to you, didn’t you? You thought you’d get rid of Dad, and you’d still be okay because I’d give up my trip to France to help out with the bills.”
    â€œThat’s not true.”
    â€œWell, it’s my money,” I said. “It’s my de—”
    â€œIt’s your decision, I know. And you’re almost an adult. So there’s nothing I can do to stop you.” Finally, she turned her head to look at me. “Is that what you were going to say?”
    It was, but I kept my mouth shut.
    She sighed and went back to watching television. “Just go away, Tera.”
    The loathing in her words snuck into my chest and settled there, taking up space. She didn’t want to be around me. I wasn’t worth her time. I sat, wanting her to look at me. Yell at me. Anything.
    Not even an eye flicker, but that was okay. She wasn’t arguing with me. I didn’t have to listen to her yelling. Maybe she didn’t realize I’d won, but I had.
    My victory felt fragile, though, so I got up from the couch as quiet as a ghost and edged my way out of her sight.

CHAPTER 11
A Secret
    Tera’s mom and dad waited at the kitchen table, her mom’s face like a rock, her dad tilting his chair on two legs. Something was wrong. She’d done something wrong.
    â€œSit down,” her dad said. A lit cigarette rested in the ashtray, the ash so long it looked like a finger.
    She shrank into the empty chair between them. Her mom pulled something off her lap and smacked it on the table. Tera’s sketchpad of good paper, the one her dad had given to her for her birthday. She’d printed her name on the cover in black marker: Tera Waters, age 9. So far it only had one drawing because she’d thrown all the others away. She should have thrown this one away, too, but she’d saved it to show her dad. She thought it was good, maybe the best she’d ever done. But that didn’t matter. She should have thrown it away.
    Her mom flipped open the sketchpad, and there it was, the one drawing. A naked girl. Haley. Draped over the couch like Rose from the Titanic movie. Just like Rose when Jack sketched her in the nude.
    Haley lay on her side, her head