Chapter 12 My father smiles broadly. My mother is on the sofa, staring into space. The TV show is back, with no sound. And I’m just hanging around. “How ya’ doing, Sweetie?” “Great. Can you put me down now?” My Dad laughs and twirls me around so my legs fly out, then he lowers me gently to the floor. My face is red. I’m not in kindergarten, I want to shout. I bite my tongue instead. Something about his treating me like a child appeals to me. Kinda. And it makes me feel very uncomfortable. We are like strangers at a party. We have a connection but we don’t have anything to say to each other. He tousles my hair. This is what passes for conversation. “Mom, did you get Denise’s number?” She’s staring at the silent TV. The sound of my voice brings her back. She snaps out of it and reache