Stronger than You Know by Jolene Perry Page A

home.”
    â€œAnything?” I ask, my mind spinning with possibilities. Have I ever picked out dinner before? So many choices and possibilities and people to please …
    â€œAnything.”
    Before letting myself overthink, I say, “Pizza.”
    â€œPerfect.” He smiles wide, and I guess that’s it. We’re getting pizza tonight because it’s what I want. Amazing.
    It’s still the simple things in my new life that overwhelm me.

TWELVE
    Control
    A week’s gone by and I have yet to use my new phone. Maybe it’s good that I haven’t needed anything. Aunt Nicole hands me another dish, which I set in the dishwasher.
    Trent sits by the front door in Nike shorts and a white T-shirt attacking his phone with his thumbs. This is what he does with most of his Saturdays unless he’s out with friends.
    â€œRob!” Aunt Nicole calls. “You two are going to be late!”
    â€œHe can wait!” Uncle Rob laughs from upstairs.
    â€œWhat are they doing?” I ask as I add detergent and start the full machine. This has been my chore for the past week, and it’s such an easy one that I’m happy to feel like I’m helping.
    â€œTrent and Uncle Rob do kung fu together. They have for ages. Trent’s busier than he used to be, but they still like the workout.”
    Uncle Rob steps into the kitchen and kisses Aunt Nicole on the cheek.
    â€œCan I come?” The words fly out of my mouth before I have a chance to stop them.
    Uncle Rob’s brows go up. “Yeah. Why don’t you change into those soft pants your mom got you, that way if you feel like joining, you can.”
    Aunt Nicole’s face pulls into wrinkles of worry. “It’s loud, Joy, and …”
    I’ve already decided and want to go before I think too much and chicken out. “I’ll be right back.” I jog upstairs, take off my button-up from school, and throw on a T-shirt and the yoga pants from my aunt.
    Wait. Uncle Rob called Aunt Nicole my mom. My heart aches for it. I know the word slip was just a stupid mistake on his part so why does it have to give me so much hope?
    I almost run into Tara at the top of the stairs.
    â€œWhere are you off to?” she asks.
    â€œKung fu?” I didn’t think when I first asked. My note to Lydia’s going to be a good one.
    Tara makes a face. “Have fun with that.”
    â€œI’m curious.” I shrug and run downstairs.
    â€œReady?” Uncle Rob’s smile is wide, but his voice is soft and quiet, like it always is around me.
    â€œYeah.” I’m brave. I’m strong. I’m so going to do something I’ve never done.
    Now I can be Joy, Queen of New Experiences.
    There are more people at the kung fu studio than I was expecting.
    Mirrors run along one side and mats lay on the floor. The group is diverse, with some women—maybe two or three—a lot of men, and a few kids my age.
    Uncle Rob stops next to me as Trent moves on to the massive mat. “The instructor’s loud. Don’t let it bother you. It’s just what he does, okay?”
    I nod.
    â€œYou want to leave, just make eye contact with me or run out to the car.”
    â€œAll right.” I have a way out, which makes the whole new experience fun instead of panic-inducing.
    I sit on the floor near the door to watch because I’m not sure what to expect. Everyone says their hellos and spreads out on the mats, starting with lunges. The instructor is strong and flexible, stretching farther than anyone else and looks like he’s straining less than everyone else. A girl with long pigtails and bleach blond hair is in the back corner close to where I’m sitting, and I watch her.
    Her jaw flexes as she stretches, almost as close to the mat as the instructor. Her eyes seem focused directly in front of her, not even really watching the teacher. She looks so … tough .
    Her eyes catch mine, and she smiles