Chapter 279. Gerald the Boot, For Real
NICK
We did general cleaning on a Saturday. Mum said Saturdays were for things that didn't need to be rushed.
She'd bought the stars weeks before. I found out by accident. I saw the box in her closet when I was looking for socks. I pretended not to see it. I wanted her to have the surprise, even though I already knew. That felt important. Letting her have it, even though I'd already found it.
She came into my room after lunch. Box in one hand, stepladder in the other. She looked like she actually wanted to do this. Not just because it was nice for me. Because it meant something to her, too.
"Ready?"
"Yeah, ready.”
I'd already moved Gerald the Boot over. We'd brought him from Chicago carefully, in a small bag I'd packed myself, refusing to let
