Page 60 of Total Lunar Eclipse

Immediately, my dad shoves away from the table and rushes over to me, but my mom beats him.

“What’s wrong? Did you hurt yourself when you fell? Jorge, call an ambulance!”

“What? No, I’m fine. What?” I ask again in confusion.

My mom is running a hand over my head, checking for injuries and my dad is trying to bat her hands away.

“Give her some space, Ann. She’s just addled her brain. How the damn thing keeps working as much as she does this is beyond me,” my dad comments absently.

“Gee, thanks, Dad,” I say dryly, finally getting ahold of myself.

“What’s wrong, honey?” My mom asks me. “Are you having second thoughts about staying here? Your father and I will understand if you don’t.”

“I literally have no idea what you’re talking about; I’m just so fucking glad you’re not dead,” I say carelessly and throw my arms around my mother’s neck in a hug.

“Zahra Rosa Delsol, are you on drugs?” My mother demands.

“It would make sense,” my dad adds.

I pull back from my mom to glare at my dad and then rememberhe’s aliveand I decide to hug him instead.

“Dad’s right; I addled my brain. Remind me of everything, please?’

My mom peers at me with pity and I laugh, so familiar is her look.

Speaking very slowly, she says, “You have your first day of work today. At the library.”

“I’m addled, mom, not stupid,” I tell her snarkily.

“Could’ve fooled me,” my dad jokes.

Now you all know where I get it from.

CHAPTER 28

ZAHRA

“Start from the beginning,” I command my mother, who shoots a worried look askance to my father.

When she doesn’t say anything, my dad takes it upon himself to help, “Well, twenty-seven years ago, my sperm fertilized one of your mom’s eggs. I’ve always had strong swimmers-”

“MOM!” I roar.

Unfortunately, she’s laughing too hard to get my dad to stop his tale. I should probably be thankful he didn’t describehowhis sperm fertilized mom’s egg.

“Zahra, we’re not quite sure what you’re asking?”

“I have a job at the library?”

“Yes,” my mother says again slowly. “Mrs. Gerty is moving to Arizona to take up another job and you’re taking her place. Although, with your degree, I don’t know why you don’t apply at some bigger libraries, like in New York or Chicago.”

I shudder at her mention of Chicago.

“No, here is good. And promise me you and dad will never drive to Chicago.”

My folks give me a blank look.

It’s a familiar one, too.