“I don’t want you angry at the school,” I said.

“I am angry that you were scared to tell us.”

“I was scared to tell myself.”

She took a breath and didn’t try to make me feel better immediately.

That afternoon, I returned the parking attendant’s badge at the pharmacy.

I had decided not to keep taking the occasional evening shifts.

Losing the school job didn’t make standing in the booth after dark any easier on my body.

Karen came with me.