Grandma makes egg mcmuffins and lets us watch R-rated movies.

Since Jennifer’s mom is a biker and goes out a lot, Jennifer usually stays at her grandmother’s house where she can have a more stable childhood. Her grandpa stays in his downstairs bedroom with the door locked. I’ve never seen him. Everyone smokes, so the couches smell musty and cigarettey. Both bathtubs are stained brown around the drain. But I still love sleeping there because her grandma makes egg mcmuffins and lets us watch R-rated movies.

SINGLE MOMS HAVE COZY APARTMENTS BY SE DIAMOND 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 99

Jennifer’s mom picks us up from school in her 80s Cavalier on Friday. Her name’s Melody and she’s taking us to her apartment for the weekend so we can all go out for Jennifer’s 14th birthday. We’ll have dinner, maybe check out a carnival. Jennifer will probably sneak out and meet some Mexican boys at the park.

I’m in the back seat staring at the head-rests that make a square at the back of their heads. They both have blonde hair. My hair is brown and ugly. My mom dyes …