Free The Gossip File by Anna Staniszewski Page A

bathroom. I can’t go back home without ever setting eyes on it.
    We pile into Ellie’s car and head toward Dad’s place. One of the dozens of things I’ve missed about my dad since he’s been gone has been his stories. I ask him to tell us about some of the wacky tourists he’s mentioned to me on the phone, but Ellie jumps in instead.
    â€œJust last week your father had a man asking if he’d see any kangaroos during the snorkeling trip,” she says.
    â€œKangaroos?” Caleb says. “Don’t they only have those in Australia?”
    â€œAnd since when do kangaroos live in the water?” I add, looking at my dad.
    â€œExactly!” he starts to say, but Ellie cuts him off.
    â€œIt turns out the man had heard about tree kangaroos and figured they must be able to live anywhere, even in the ocean,” she says. “I guess he didn’t realize he was on the wrong continent.”
    Ellie giggles loudly while my dad lets out a soft chuckle. I force myself to smile, but really I want to yell, “Dad, why can’t you tell your own stories? Why are you letting Ellie take over everything?”
    When we get to his apartment, I’m expecting someplace tiny, but I’m still shocked when we go into what’s essentially a long hallway with a sofa shoved into it. Off the bigger hallway are a smaller hallway with Dad’s bed and an even smaller one with a kitchen jammed inside. As we get the “grand tour,” I find myself shuffling sideways the whole time like a crab. No wonder my dad decided to let me stay with Ellie! Otherwise, I would’ve had to sleep standing up in the kitchen.
    â€œWow,” I say slowly. “This is…nice.”
    Dad shrugs. “It was the best I could do at first. Now that work has been steadier at the resort, I should be able to upgrade soon.”
    Ellie giggles. “But this place has so much charm!” She jokingly caresses the hideous green wallpaper while Caleb rolls his eyes and goes to turn on the TV.
    â€œWho wants ice cream?” Dad asks.
    Since his apartment only has one measly window AC unit sputtering away against the heat, we all instantly raise our hands.
    Caleb and Ellie go to sit on the tiny balcony to cool down while I squeeze into the kitchen and help my dad scoop some chocolate chip ice cream. After a minute, I take a deep breath and say, “Dad? I, um, wanted to talk to you about something.”
    He sighs and puts down his spoon. “I know I’ve been working too much, and I’m sorry. The thing is, if I want to get to where I’d like to be in life, that means making sacrifices, even if that includes—”
    â€œNo, Dad,” I say, not sure what he’s talking about. “It’s about Ellie.”
    He holds up his hands like he’s surrendering. “I can guess what you’re going to say, and I understand that you don’t want to spend your vacation working, but she really needs your help and—”
    â€œDad! Listen!” I say in a loud whisper. Ellie’s still outside, but I definitely don’t want her to hear me. “It’s not about work. It’s about… Do you think you’ll marry Ellie?”
    Dad lets out a surprised cough. “Where is this coming from?”
    â€œI just wondered, that’s all. Have you guys talked about it?”
    Weirdly, his cheeks get a little red. I can probably count on my fingers the number of times I’ve seen my dad blush. My cheeks get hot too. Apparently, I’m a sympathy blusher.
    â€œThere’s nothing in the plans now,” he says slowly, “but I think one day, it’s a definite possibility.”
    That sounds like a long way of saying “yes.”
    â€œYou’d be okay with that, wouldn’t you, Roo?” Dad adds.
    It’s my turn to let out a surprised cough. “Oh, um. I mean, Ellie seems nice and everything, but don’t you think