When Sam finally returned home after winning a long and dirty struggle with Grandma’s grow lights, Eleanor was leaving. He barely had time to stammer out a confused goodbye, and she was gone.

“Better luck next time, Sam,” Kali said.

Sam refused to take the bait. “Did you leave me any food?”

“I wasn’t going to, but Mom insisted. It’s in the cooler. You’ll have to warm it up.”

Of course, he would. “Where is Mom?” he asked.

“Out checking on Miss T and the new baby,” Kali said.

Sam grunted, ducked beneath the kitchen counter, and rummaged through the cooler until he found the container that made his armband flash today’s date. He pulled it out and stuck in the warmer. Two minutes would pr...

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