Summary

Deja skips across the school's steps so she can say that she did go to school that morning. It is getting cold and she does not have a coat yet. Deja reflects on some recent past events at home. Ma says Pop is depressed so when she is not working, she stays in the room to take care of him instead of taking Deja shopping for a coat. She overheard her mom crying on her cell phone one night, telling Auntie Rita that Pop might have to go to the hospital. Deja suddenly realizes that every September, Pop gets worse.

Deja begins to question whether or not she is doing the right thing by skipping school to learn more about 9/11. She starts to see their life right now is not so bad. She thinks that in high school she can...