The Black Sheep Has Arrived — Episode 9

After dinner, I sat around for a while and was about to get up when my father stopped Hazel, your mom cleaned out your old room a few days ago. You haven't been home in ten years. She won't say it, but she's missed you.

He added with a small smile. New sheets, new pillowcases. She picked them out herself. Right on cue.

My mother came out of the kitchen wiping her hands, her voice flat. Melanie's taking the guest room tonight. Hazel, you can crash on the couch. My father's smile stiffened on his face.

Melanie looked up from the couch, glanced at me, and the corner of her mouth twitched Mrs. Whitford, please, I couldn't. I can just book an Airbnb. My mother's tone left no room for discussion. You come home so rarely.

I'm not letting you stay at some stranger's place. Hazel's family. She can take the I stood next to the dining table and said nothing. The summer after I finished the SAT, Melanie stayed over. I gave her my room and curled up on the living room couch all night.

The A.C. broke that night in August. I woke up sweating three times. By morning, my shirt was soaked through, and my neck was cramped from the couch When my mother saw me the next morning, all she said was,

You should have grabbed a blanket from the closet and slept on the guest room floor. Guest room has the window unit. Melanie stayed over a few more times after that. Once, I stood in the doorway of my own room and watched my mother bend over the guest

carefully smoothing fresh sheets, a soft smile on her face. I stood there thinking I looked like a guest who'd wandered into the wrong house. Hazel?