Misdirected by Ali Berman Page A

sulky teenager. The way Emily got when she was my age. So they let me eat without bothering me anymore. Instead, Mom talks about Pete and how excited she is to have him home in December. Not for good, but for a while.
    He’ll get to wear regular clothes and see movies and eat food he actually likes. Mostly, when he’s been back twice before, he’s pretty quiet. He doesn’t go out and hang with his old friends very much. He stays home, reads books, and watches movies. He says, “When you’re in the army, you’re lucky if you get to take a shit in private, let alone be in a room by yourself all night.” I don’t think I’d have it in me.
    After dinner I go back upstairs and practice some more. I mess with the different illusions until my fingers start to cramp. These tricks are rough. It’s going to take a lot of work to master them. It would go faster if I had someone to work with. Someone who was already good at them and could show me the technique and fix my hands when I’m doing something wrong. I need Margaret. I think about calling her but it’s time to meet Tess.
    I sneak downstairs and open the door. “Going somewhere?” asks my dad.
    â€œJesus. You scared me.”
    He stands up from the chair in the living room and turns on a light.
    â€œThis is the third Thursday night I’ve heard you go outside.”
    â€œAnd you didn’t stop me?”
    â€œI watched from the window. You went across the street. I get it. You’re fifteen and you’re not allowed to see your girlfriend.”
    â€œHow do you know she’s my girlfriend?”
    â€œBecause I’m not an idiot.”
    â€œDoes Mom know?”
    â€œNot about the sneaking out. You know your mom. She sleeps like someone hit her over the head.”
    â€œWe’re not doing anything bad. It’s just the only time we can see each other.”
    â€œIf Tess gets caught, you know she’s going to be in a lot of trouble, don’t you?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œSo maybe this should be the last time you meet in the middle of the night,”
    â€œHow will we see each other?”
    â€œI know it’s not fair and I know you’ve been dealing with a lot since you got here, but sneaking out isn’t the way to solve it.”
    â€œHow do I solve it?”
    He shakes his head. “I don’t know. Religious differences are a tough nut to crack. But it will get better.”
    â€œThat’s all you’ve got for me?”
    â€œYep. You go tell Tess you can’t meet like this anymore.”
    â€œIt may take a little while. I also have to apologize for something else.”
    â€œStuck your foot in your mouth?”
    â€œUp to my knee.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œNight, Dad. And thanks.”
    â€œI was fifteen once too.”
    My dad heads back upstairs and I hurry across the street to the shed.
    â€œYou’re late,” says Tess.
    â€œMy dad caught me.”
    â€œOh no!” she says, forgetting for a second that she’s mad at me.
    â€œHe was cool about it, but this is the last time I can meet you out here.”
    She slumps her shoulders and looks at the ground. “When will I see you?”
    â€œWe’ll figure it out.”
    We both sit down on the ground. Now that it’s October, it’s a bit colder. She puts her head on my shoulder and I wrap my arm around her.
    â€œAbout earlier,” I say. “I’m sorry. My sister told me that she’s gay, like a month ago. My parents don’t even know yet.”
    â€œThat’s big.”
    â€œI mean, it shouldn’t be big. It’s just who she is, but it’s new. Not new to her. New to me. And then at church the guys were gay bashing. Kenny wrote fag on my locker and it made me want to punch him in the face. All of a sudden there were these people who don’t like my sister, and they’ve never even met her. I feel bad that she