Page 22 of The Secret to Belonging

Jeanine asks why you want to be an exchange student

phrases from rehab brochures swim to the surface of your brain

addiction is hurting the people you love

you’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to turn

your life has become unmanageable

you tell Jeanine you are eager for a change

ready for a challenge

excited for a new family in a new place

you wonder if your mother can hear you

SIX (SEKS)

you and Alison get phone calls on the same day

you’re in!

you won scholarships!

you’re going to be exchange students!

only one thing

all the French-speaking countries are full

would you consider Norway?

you say Norway sounds terrific

hang up the phone and go upstairs

pull out the atlas

where in the world is Norway?

Alison is going to live with a family in Rome

they have two little girls

the mother is a teacher at the high school

the father gives tours at the Vatican

Alison will be their fourth exchange student

Mr. Hewitt lets you borrow a VCR

you eat pizza and watch Roman Holiday and Spartacus

Alison drinks Bartles & Jaymes in a red wineglass

you don’t know any Norwegian movies