The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer

“You’re a coward, just like you told me. When you
     didn’t visit Julie, that wasn’t because you were a slip or Lisa had an evaluation.
     It was because deep down inside you’re scared. You’re weak and cowardly, and I don’t
     want to see you ever again.”
    “Sarah,” Jon pleaded.
    “Go away,” she said. “And don’t ever come back. I’ll call for a guard, Jon, if you
     don’t leave right now. I’m not kidding.”
    “I’m sorry,” he said again, but he began walking away. He turned back once and saw
     Sarah standing there absolutely still.
    Julie wasn’t the only one who understood him, he thought. Sarah had known him for
     a month, and she knew him every bit as well, and now hated him just as much.

 
     
    Tuesday, June 9
     
    Jon had never seen Lisa look so happy, so excited.
    “You passed your evaluation,” he said.
    Lisa raced over and hugged him. “I passed!” she cried. “We’re safe for another three
     years.”
    “That’s great, Lisa,” Jon said. “You deserve it.”
    “Oh, Jon, it’s even better than that,” she said. “Sit down. No, I’ll sit down. No,
     I’m too excited to sit down.”
    Jon laughed. “We’ll both sit down,” he said. “Tell me what happened. How did you find
     out?”
    “They called me in,” Lisa said. “I can’t wait to tell Gabe. I know he won’t understand,
     but I want to tell him anyway. Jon, I didn’t just pass. I got a promotion!”
    “You’re kidding,” Jon said. “Lisa, that’s amazing.”
    “I’m now head of domestic placements,” she said. “My boss got transferred. I can’t
     believe they hired me. I thought for sure they’d hire someone’s sister or cousin.
     I thought they’d hire the relative and I’d be struck having to train some idiot, or
     worse still, they’d say no to my evaluation to justify not giving me the job. It doesn’t
     matter. Maybe no relative wanted the job. Either way, I got it.”
    “What are the benefits?” Jon asked.
    “They offered me a choice,” Lisa replied. “I could have a bigger house, better neighborhood,
     but I love this neighborhood, so why should I want to move? And we don’t need a bigger
     house. So I decided against that right away. Instead we’re getting a personal greenhouse.
     Jon, we’ll be able to grow our own fruits and vegetables. Herbs. Do you know how much
     I’ve missed fresh herbs?”
    “That’s great,” Jon said.
    Lisa laughed. “Don’t worry, you won’t have to work in it,” she said, but then she
     lowered her voice. “Whichever I chose, I’d be getting a third domestic. I had this
     amazing idea, Jon. I’m going to arrange it so that Miranda gets the job.”
    “Miranda?” Jon said.
    “Quiet,” Lisa said. “Val might hear you.”
    “I’m sorry,” Jon whispered. “But Miranda working here?”
    “It makes a lot of sense, Jon,” Lisa replied. “The baby could share the nursery with
     Gabe. Carrie can look after both of them while Miranda works in the greenhouse.”
    “What about Alex?” Jon asked, still trying to understand how it would work.
    “He’d keep the apartment, I guess,” Lisa said. “Miranda and the baby can take the
     bus Saturday nights with Val and Carrie. But Miranda wouldn’t have to work nearly
     so hard, and she wouldn’t have the commute, and she’d be able to look in on her baby
     at mealtimes. She’ll eat better here, and the air would be better for the baby. You
     can see all that, can’t you, Jon?”
    Jon remembered what Alex had said about Gabe being better off in Sexton than with
     his mother. This wasn’t exactly the same. Miranda would still be a grub, and her baby
     would be a grub’s baby, not a claver’s. But Lisa would treat them well, and things
     would be easier for them.
    He wasn’t sure how he felt about having his sister being a domestic where he lived.
     It felt weird, wrong. But if Miranda was in the greenhouse and he was at school or
     at practice, he’d hardly see her anyway.
    “Where