Chapter 8
Vicki found the steaks in the freezer had thawed enough and needed to be cooked soon. Dusk settled in the sky, and she added charcoal to the grill in the backyard. At least she had remembered how to set something from camp. Her years on her own, without her last name or family money, taught her how to survive in cities with jobs, not camping.
Vicki turned to watch her daughter one more time. Clara had her radio, and she played in the shade on the patio. Today was perfect. Vicki turned around and lit a match, but nothing flamed. She bit her lip, added more charcoal, and lit more matches, but nothing flamed. She crossed her arms. What was she doing wrong?
She picked up a piece of charcoal and held the match to it. The black charcoal never took the flames.
Clearly she'd missed a
