Hello, my name is anika

9. Riley's house

HI Riley!

Hi!

So you're Riley's dad?

Nice to meet you.

Yeah, I'm mute. I use this notebook to talk.

Uh, Riley, what do you want to do?

Ok cool!

So what game are we playing?

Monopoly! Cool!

So how does monopoly work again? I haven't played it in a while.

You don't know either? Well, I guess we can just fail together then. Do you even have a rulebook?

Let's see? You get like this much?

Ok.

Let's just mime everything. It saves me time and it basically turns any game into charades. It's what my dad and I do-did all the time.

...

I haven't had that much fun in ages. Thanks for having me over!

It's okay, I can get back myself. Thanks for the offer though.

See you!

___________

Hi!

That was fun. Thank you for letting me do that.

Ok, yeah! I'll-

No-i- I didn't wear my mask.

I'm sorry! I-no, don't call them! i don't even know her number!

I breathe at school. They're not going to die.

Go and rake? But it's dinnertime

I-sorry. I'll go rake.

______

Im back. Can I?

Ok. What do you want me to do?

I'll do the dishwasher. Sorry for being a hazard and impertinent.

I was so close. So close to having Riley come back, to having her find out about everything.

That was the most fun I've had... since dad died.

It made me feel like I was accepted again.

It was great.

I wish everything could be like that.

I wish...I wish I could be home again.

maybe one day, Riley will find out and everything can somehow be set right.

How will I survive the holidays? I can barely spend twelve hours with her. How will I survive 2 weeks?