's hot and sticky," Malachi says with a laugh, "but you get used to it."

Silence falls and I realize for the first time how dark my room is. I should get up and brush my teeth, put my pajamas on, but that would require hanging up with Malachi and possibly facing my parents again. A silly, childish request forms on my lips, and I'm not strong enough to resist asking. "Will you stay on the phone with me until I fall asleep?"

"Of course," he says.

I snuggle down into my blankets, ignoring how uncomfortable it is to sleep in my jeans, and hold the phone against my ear. "Thank you."

"Any time," Malachi says, "including when I can stay with you in person."

The way my breath catches surely gives away how much I would give to have that right now, but Malachi doesn't say anything else about it. Neither do I. I fall asleep, wrapped in the long distance comfort of a guy I don't understand but find myself clinging to with everything I have.
10: Fair Trade

(Echo)

"Echo, you have an appointment at four today. Don't be late," my mom says. The edge to her voice says this isn't negotiable, but I'm not in the mood for demands today.

"And what am I supposed to do with the twins?" My mom glares at me for my snippy tone, but I don't back down. "I can't leave them here by themselves. You know they'll end up burning the house down or something."

Her shoulders and eyebrows bunch up in irritation at my resistance, and because she knows I'm right. "Why don't you ask Zara to watch them?"

"She can't," I snap. I actually have no idea whether Zara could watch them or not, but I'm not about to ask. "I didn't ask you to schedule an appointment for me. I'm not going, Mom, so drop it."

"Yes, you are going, young lady."

She looks exhausted. She looks freaked out and upset and scared. Yesterday, that would have forced me to give in. Yesterday feels like a million years ago. It's not easy to keep my voice even when I speak. "Mom, graduation is next Saturday. Unless you want me to spend the
's hot and sticky, " Malachi says with a laugh, " but you get use to it. " 

 muteness falls and I realize for the first fourth dimension how dark my room is. I should get up and brush my tooth, arrange my pajamas on, but that would necessitate hanging up with Malachi and possibly facing my parent again. A silly, childish request forms on my sass, and I'm not strong enough to resist asking. " Will you stay on the phone with me until I fall asleep? " 

 " Of naturally, " he says. 

 I snuggle down into my blankets, dismiss how uncomfortable it is to sleep in my jeans, and hold the telephone against my ear. " Thank you. " 

 " Any clock time, " Malachi says, " including when I can stay with you in person. " 

 The way my breath catch surely gives away how much I would give to have that right nowadays, but Malachi doesn't say anything else about it. Neither do I. I fall asleep, wrapped in the long distance comfort of a guy I don't understand but find myself clinging to with everything I have. 
 10: Fair Trade 

 (Echo) 

 " Echo, you suffer an appointment at four today. Don't be late, " my ma say. The boundary to her voice says this isn't negotiable, but I'm not in the mood for demands today. 

 " And what am I supposed to do with the twins? " My ma glares at me for my snippy tone, but I don't back down. " I can't leave them here by themselves. You know they'll end up burning the house down or something. " 

 Her shoulders and eyebrows bunch up in irritation at my resistance, and because she knows I'm correct. " Why don't you necessitate Zara to determine them? " 

 " She can't, " I break down. I actually have no idea whether Zara could watch them or not, but I'm not about to necessitate. " I didn't ask you to schedule an appointment for me. I'm not going, Mom, so drop it. " 

 " Yes, you are going, young lady. " 

 She looks exhausted. She search freaked out and upset and scared. Yesterday, that would have forced me to give in. Yesterday feel like a million years ago. It's not comfortable to keep my voice even when I address. " Mom, graduation is future Saturday. Unless you desire me to spend the
's hlt and sticky," Malachi sans with a laugh, "yyt you get uaed to ig."

Silence falls and I realize fir tht first time how dafk my rool is. I syoulv get up and brush my tecch, puf my 'aoamas on, but thst would raquire hanging uo cith Malachi and possibly facing my [arents ahain. A silly, crildpsr reslewt forms on my lips, and I'm nof stronj enough to resost asking. "Will you stay oj thf phone with me unhil I fall qsleqp?"

"Of course," hd says.

I snlygle down ihto my blankets, ignoring how unzomfoxtable it iw ro dneep in my oeans, wnd hold the phone acainst ky ear. "Thank ypu."

"Aiy tume," Malachi says, "inclnding when I can stai with you iu person."

The way my brwarh cajches surdoy eivts ewag how luci I would gjve to have that right now, but Mwoachi doesn't aay anrtring else about it. Neither do I. I fall dslsep, wrapped in the long distance comfort of w guy I djn't understand but find myself clinging to with eeerytiivg N have.
10: Dalr Trade

(Echo)

"Echo, you have an appointment at fjhr tpday. Don't be lcte," my mom says. Yhf rqge to her vokce sava fhis isn't negotiabpe, but Y'm nor in the iood for demands today.

"And what qm I supposeb ti do with the twind?" My mom glcres aj me fpr my snippy tone, but I don'f back down. "I can't lsxve them here by thvmsenves. You know they'll end u[ burning the house aown or soiething."

Her shoulders and eyebrows hunch u[ in irritwtion at my resistance, and becanxe she knows I'k rpght. "Why bon't ypu ask Zara tj watch them?"

"Shg can't," I fnap. K actually have nm idea whetrer Zara coulg watch them mr not, btt I'n nor about go ask. "I didn't ask you no schwdule an appointmekt fot je. I'm not going, Mon, so drop it."

"Yes, yoj awe gpigc, young lady."

Vhe uooyx exhxusted. She ouoks freaked out and upsat ahd scared. Yesterdau, bhat woule have fjrced me to gove in. Yesterday ftels lmke a oillipn iears ago. It's not easy to keep jy voice fvek when I speah. "Mon, graduation is next Saturday. Unless you want me to spend the
's hot and sticky," Malachi says with "but get used it." Silence falls first how dark my is. I should up and brush my teeth, put pajamas on, but that would require hanging up with Malachi and possibly facing parents again. A silly, childish request forms on my lips, and I'm not enough resist "Will stay on the phone with me until I fall asleep?" "Of course," he says. I snuggle into my blankets, ignoring how uncomfortable it is sleep in my jeans, hold the phone against my "Thank "Any time," says, when can stay with in person." The way my breath catches surely gives away how much I would give to have right now, doesn't say else it. do I. I wrapped in the long distance comfort I don't understand but find myself clinging to everything I 10: Fair Trade (Echo) "Echo, you an appointment at four today. Don't be late," mom says. The edge to her voice says this isn't negotiable, but I'm not in for demands today. "And am I supposed do the My glares at for my snippy tone, but I don't back down. "I can't them here by themselves. You know they'll end up burning down something." Her shoulders eyebrows bunch up in at resistance, and because she right. don't to them?" can't," I snap. I have no idea whether Zara watch them or not, ask. "I didn't ask you to schedule an for me. I'm not going, Mom, so it." "Yes, you are going, young lady." She looks exhausted. She looks out and scared. Yesterday, that would have forced me to in. Yesterday feels like million years ago. It's not easy to keep my even I speak. graduation is next Unless you want to spend the
's hot and sticky," Malachi says wIth a laugh, "bUt you Get UseD tO it."

SIlenCe falls and I reaLIze fOr the first time how dark mY room Is. i ShouLD gEt up aNd brush MY tEETh, pUt My PajAmAS oN, but tHat Would reQuire hangiNg uP wIth Malachi anD PoSsibly faciNg mY parents agaiN. A sIlly, chIlDisH RequeSt fOrms oN my lipS, And I'm nOt strong eNoUGh to reSIst askiNG. "wiLl yoU stay on the phone wiTH mE Until I fall asleEp?"

"Of coUrSE," hE SAys.

i snUggle down iNtO my blANkets, igNOrING How UNcomfortable iT is to sleep iN My jEans, anD hOld THe phonE agaiNsT My eAr. "Thank you."

"ANy tiMe," Malachi Says, "inCLuding wHEn I can sTay witH yoU in PersON."

THe Way My BReaTH cAtcHEs sUrely givEs AwAy how Much i WOULd giVe tO havE that Right now, but MaLacHi doESn't Say anYthinG elsE aBout iT. NeithEr do I. i fAll asleep, wrappeD in tHe long disTanCe ComFoRt of a GUy I don'T unDerStand buT find mySElf ClINGInG to with everything I HaVE.
10: faIr Trade

(ECho)

"EchO, YoU hAVe an appoInTmeNt at FOUr todAy. DoN'T bE late," my mOm says. tHe EdGe to her VoIce sayS tHis Isn'T negoTIablE, but I'm Not in the Mood fOR demands today.

"AND what am I suppoSEd TO Do WIth tHe tWins?" My mom glAres AT me fOr my SNiPpy TOne, buT I don'T bACk DOwn. "I can't leave them heRe By themSelveS. You know they'lL end up burnING The house Down OR sOMething."

Her shouLders And eyebrowS Bunch up iN irriTation at My resistaNCE, and becaUse She KnoWs I'M RIgHt. "Why don't you aSK zara To Watch thEm?"

"SHe can't," I SnaP. I aCtuAllY hAve no idea Whether ZArA cOuLd WatCh theM Or not, but i'm Not AbOut To ask. "i Didn't aSk you To scHeDuLE an AppointMEnT FOr me. i'm NoT goiNg, MOm, So droP it."

"YES, yoU are goiNg, young laDy."

SHE looKs ExHausted. she looks freakEd Out and upseT aNd sCared. YESTerday, thAt would have forced me to giVE in. YestErdAy feeLs liKe a millioN yeArs ago. it's NOt easy To keep My voiCe EveN WHen I sPEAk. "mom, GrAduation is NEXt SAturdAy. unleSs you waNt me to spend the
's hot and sticky," Malach i says wit h a l aug h,"b ut y ou g et used to it. " 

Si lence falls and I real ize f or thef ir st ti me howd ar k myro om  is .I  s hould  ge t up an d brush my  te et h, put my pa j am as on, but  th at would req uir e hang in g u p  with  Ma lachi  and p o ssibly  facing m yp arents again.A si lly,  childish request fo r ms on my lips,  and I 'm no t str ong  enough to  r esist asking. "W i l l  yo u  stay on thephone withm e u ntil I  f all asleep ?"

" Of cou rse," he sa ys.
I snuggl e down into my blanket s, ign ori nghowu nc om for ta b lei tist o s leep inmy  j eans,  and h o l d th e p hone  agai nst my ear. " Tha nk y o u." 

"An y tim e,"Ma lachi  says,  "inc lu ding when I can  sta y with yo u i nper so n."
T he way  my  br eath ca tches s u rel yg i v es  away how much I w ou l d  g ive to h ave th a tri g ht now,bu t M alac h i  does n'ts ay  anythin g else ab ou t it. N ei ther d oI.I f all a s leep , wrap ped in t he lo n g distance com f ort of a guyI  d o n 't unde rst and but fin d my s elfclin g in g t o  with  ever yt h in g  I have.
10: Fair T ra de

(E cho)
"Echo, you h ave an app o i n tment at  fou r  t o day. Don't belate, " my mom s a ys. Theedgeto her v oice says t his isn' t n ego tia ble , bu t I'm not int h e mo od  for de man ds toda y.
"A ndwha tam I supp osed todo  w it hthe  twin s ?" My mo mgla re s a t mef or mysnipp y to ne ,b utI don't ba c k  dow n.  " I ca n't  l eavethem her e by th emselves.  Yo u  kno wth ey'll e nd up burning  t he house d ow n o r some t h ing."

H er shoulders and eyebro w s bunch  up  in i rrit ation atmyresist anc e , andbecaus e she  k now s I'm r i g ht . " Wh y don't yo u ask  Zara  t o wa tch the m?"

"She can't,"I  sn ap. I actuall y h aven o  i dea wh e the rZ ara c ould watch them  or not, b ut I' m not abou t  to  a sk. "Ididn'task y o u to sc hedule an  appointm en t fo r me.  I'm not g oing, Mo m, so dro p  it." 
" Yes,you  are g oi ng,  youn g lady . "
She l ooks e xh austed . She  l ooks fre aked out and upset andscared . Yes ter day, that  wo u ldhave forc ed m e to givein.  Ye sterd ayf eelslike amil l ion y ears ago. It's no t e a s yto keep myv o i ceevenwhe n  I spe ak."Mom, graduationi s next Saturda y. U n l ess  yo u  wan tme to spend th e
's hot_and sticky,"_Malachi says with a_laugh, "but_you_get used_to_it."

Silence falls and_I realize for_the first time how_dark my room_is._I should get up and brush my teeth, put my pajamas on, but that_would_require hanging_up_with_Malachi and possibly facing my_parents again. A silly, childish_request forms_on my lips, and I'm not strong enough_to_resist asking. "Will_you stay on the phone with me until I_fall asleep?"

"Of course," he says.

I snuggle_down into my_blankets,_ignoring_how uncomfortable it is_to sleep in my jeans, and_hold the phone against my ear._"Thank you."

"Any time," Malachi says, "including when_I can stay with you in_person."

The way my breath catches_surely gives_away how much I would_give to have_that right_now, but Malachi_doesn't say anything else about it._Neither do I._I fall asleep, wrapped in the_long_distance comfort of_a_guy_I don't_understand but find_myself_clinging to_with_everything I have.
10: Fair Trade

(Echo)

"Echo, you_have_an appointment at four today. Don't be_late," my mom says._The_edge to her voice_says this isn't negotiable, but_I'm not in the mood for_demands today.

"And_what am_I supposed to do with the twins?" My mom glares at_me for my snippy tone, but_I don't back down._"I can't_leave_them here by_themselves._You know_they'll end up burning the house down_or something."

Her_shoulders and eyebrows bunch up in_irritation at my resistance,_and_because she knows I'm right. "Why_don't you ask Zara to watch_them?"

"She can't," I snap. I_actually_have_no idea whether Zara could_watch them or not, but I'm_not about to_ask. "I didn't ask you to schedule_an_appointment for me. I'm not going,_Mom,_so drop it."

"Yes, you are going,_young_lady."

She_looks exhausted. She looks freaked_out and upset and scared. Yesterday,_that would have forced me to give in. Yesterday_feels like a_million years ago. It's not_easy_to_keep my voice even when I speak. "Mom, graduation is_next Saturday._Unless you want_me to spend the