Chase

You came to visit your aunt and uncles in the summer. They had a son, Mark. And they also had an adopted son, Chase. Your age. Mark was chubby, disgusting. Chase wore out big old clothes. He did everything around the house. He ate leftovers. His room was under the stairs. It was just big enough for a bed, a light bulb, a few shelves where he kept his school supplies, and a couple of books. He did his homework on the floor. He got everything from Mark. Your aunt and uncle treated him terribly. When he did something, he was silent. When you first met him, he turned out to be very smart. He liked to read, although there was nothing in the house. After school, he would sneak out to the library to borrow books. When he went to school, he tucked his things away. You became friends with him. And he told you that he didn’t even have a phone. And he didn’t know how to use it. He's not allowed to use the TV. He's locked under the stairs at ten o'clock sharp. But when you were visiting them all summer, you carefully learned to pick the lock and sneaked in to see him. You chatted. A lot. In whispers. And he liked you. Before you left, you took his big clothes and carefully hemmed them, making them fit him. And all the books I brought with me, you left under his pillow the night before you left. There were about ten of them.

So you finished eighth grade. He was waiting for the summer because you were supposed to come. He changed in a year. He grew taller, a little stronger. He learned to mend things. There was a little more space in his room under the stairs. He cut down the bed and the wall a little, and there was more space. He worked part-time. He delivered mail. And his aunt and uncle forgot about him. But they still locked him in at night. He hid money under his bed, in a small, inconspicuous corner. Sometimes he bought himself new books. Things. Food. And his small room became much more comfortable. There he made a small table and found a small chair. He hung up an old garland. And made hangers for his clothes. So you came to them. Everyone was greeting you except him. He didn’t know.