There’d been an insurance settlement — I knew that much.

But Delroy handled all of it.

He told Mama and me that most of the money had gone to the hospital, and whatever was left had been eaten up by other costs, and there was nothing remaining for me.

I was young.

I couldn’t read a legal document or an insurance claim to save my life.

So I believed him, the way you believe the grown man who’s supposed to be taking care of you.

I don’t want to dwell on the accident itself; it was a long time ago, and my leg healed, mostly.