Still Point by Katie Kacvinsky Page A

time you read it depending on where you are in your life. I reread it every year. I have my own copy.”
    I looked at the simplistic line drawings inside. It was mostly white space, as if so much of the story was there for readers to interpret for themselves. I liked that. It made me think that so much of life is white space, waiting to be filled.
    â€œThis one’s my favorite,” she said. It was a square hardcover book, large and heavy. “It’s local photography,” she said, and bent over me, flipping through the pages. “It captures pictures of Oregon today, contrasted with pictures of Oregon one hundred years ago. I thought you’d appreciate it.”
    I looked at my pile of new friends.
    â€œThanks,” I said.
    â€œHow was the movie?” she asked, and sat down.
    â€œWhat movie?” I asked.
Oh, crap
. “Oh,
the
movie.”
Double crap
. “It was very . . . entertaining.”
    I started chewing my nails. I am a terrible sporadic liar, especially when I knew my mom deserved the truth. “It was just a sports club, Mom. We watched soccer games and then we danced. That’s it. No rioting, no police. Maybe some boys.”
    My mom blew a long breath out of her nose.
    â€œDon’t tell Becky’s parents. Her dad would probably send her to a detention center for looking at a boy.”
    She took a sip of tea. “Was Justin there?”
    I nodded. “Yes, Mom. My boyfriend, Justin, was there.”
    For an instant a smile crossed her face, but she quickly swept it away.
    â€œBoyfriend?”
    â€œYes, and it’s getting pretty serious. And don’t say you’re disappointed in me because I know you’re not. You’ve always liked Justin. You can’t even keep a straight face when he’s around.”
    She didn’t say anything. She looked down at the table.
    â€œI’m being honest, so you should too,” I said.
    â€œI knew you weren’t going to a movie. I’ve had a rebellious teenager long enough to know better than Margaret Thompson.”
    I smiled. “Then why did you let me go?”
    â€œBecause every day I wake up with one wish, Maddie. That someday I’ll have my family back. I lost Joe to the digital world. I lost your father to his career years ago. Now you’re practically running away because you can’t stand this lifestyle, and honestly, I don’t blame you. But I can’t run away, because I have commitments. And even though I don’t agree with your father on everything, I still love him. He’s a good man.”
    I thought about this. “What do you do when you don’t agree with the person you love?”
    She sighed. “You agree to disagree. But you need to respect each other. If you lose the respect, then you have problems. And that’s one thing I haven’t lost. I still respect your dad, for what he’s trying to do.”
    â€œDoes Dad know where I went last night?”
    She nodded. “He knows you went out. He’s furious.”
    â€œWhat did you tell him?”
    â€œI told him that you went to a movie with Becky. I don’t know if he bought it, but I’m not going to play prison guard. You’re an adult. If he’s upset, he can come home and talk to you about it. I’m not tracking you, Maddie. As far as I’m concerned, when your father leaves, do what you want.”
    I stared at my mom with surprise. I had an ally.
    â€œYou’re on my side.” It wasn’t a question.
    She looked at me with sad eyes. “Why did you come home, Maddie?” she asked. “To make your father look like a monster? To ruin him?”
    I shook my head. “Mom, I came home because I want the same thing you do. I want our family back together. What we’re doing isn’t working. Something is driving us all apart. I can sit around all day and whine about how I wish my family got along, and miss the way we