She refused.
I asked Dad to call instead.
He picked up his glass. “No.”
My sister glanced toward the hallway, then back at me.
“We just need everyone to calm down before somebody says something they can’t take back.”
I reached toward the landline on the side table.
Mom moved between us.
That failed too.
My son made another sharp sound, and I stopped arguing with them long enough to pull his hoodie away from his neck and make sure nothing was restricting his breathing.
The air conditioner blew cold against my hands. A contestant on television won a vacation. The audience applauded.
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