At 3 A.M., My Brother Dragged Me Out of My Bedroom While Dad Laughed—He Had No Idea What the Smoke Detector Had Recorded

A question from Elaine wasn’t automatically a demand that I apologize.

I had to practice those distinctions.

Again and again.

The duplex helped.

It was modest.

Some repairs remained unfinished.

The kitchen cabinets were old.

The bedroom lamp came from a thrift store.