My Mother Smiled While My Sister Gave Away My Home, Until I Reminded Them Whose Name Was on It

were looking at me with something close to pity. As though I were being difficult about a thing that had already been settled, and it was a little sad, and a little tiresome, that no one had gotten around to telling me.

I let it go, at the barbecue. I smiled the tight smile you learn to smile at family gatherings and I went to clean the grill, and I continue reading …