The yellow light outside flickered above the painted metal door.

Eli and Owen sat on the edge of the sagging full-size bed.

The floral bedspread looked as if it had been washed a thousand times.

Eli tapped his foot against the faded carpet.

He read from a card in quick bursts.

“Mitochondria are double-membrane organelles.

They generate most of the cell’s supply of adenosine triphosphate.

The inner membrane has many folds called cristae.”