slid the contract acr

avy, like

ar, Ms.

as dry, lik

Ensure they are... presentable for

e next year: Sarah Hayes,

rately, highl

icture of my brother, Leo

edical bills were a black hole

governess, was his only shot. The Kincaid mo

ign

iring the Long Island m

rble-floored entryway, fa

ched with the practice

blet displaying a dizzyin

ime," I announced, my v

behavior, the ro

. Unyi

rpetually attached to his phone, ha

he'd said, a euphemis

wn home, a key external

, was the real reason for

citizens so she coul

do the job, collect

disa

small bistro I a

tachm

ids s

ther one? How long y

r nose. "Do you e

havior. Small, pre

s exactly what the contr

was part of the

ll test you. Their grandmother ins

embarrassing the family name, especially in

ugh to cover Leo's surgery, his recov

m was a

re, whispered in Finch's hushed

t, desperate p

family first. Leo's health trumped

s my pr

ackup plan bey

itself was a testame

bly cost more than my college

survive the year, no

Leo was well, was peace. And mayb

sir," I'd told Finch, echo

omplete t

.. three instances where you may call upon me for dir

et. Three

at Oliver

ing to look intimidati

ing my shoes wit

ressed

"Managing these two

last

voice even. "Your ska

one, the future a

ellious streak, his detentions, his "a

like a kid whose favorit

he board tigh

out m

small gesture. Me, the immovable object.

, Ol

hundercloud on

he thrust the skateboard a

tched, w

. "Your tablet. For

pen. "But... my str

l was o

device was legendary,

social anxiety" and

nsole table by the door. "B

. Chloe looked like sh

surdly so. Used to

from a glacier, their vegetables

one endless str

seemed, was a digital detox

Oliver finally explod

alling

implementing the new household rules. As per his

ransformation. This

actly what the con

ore "effective" my methods wo