Which detail best shows Maggie’s relationship with her mother? excerpt from A Good Place for Maggie
by Ofelia Dumas Lachtman

Even getting away from home this morning hadn’t been too bad. "It was spring vacation, and her mom and stepfather were away on business." The only person she had to explain to was the neighbor woman who looked in on her. The hard part had been figuring what to say to her mother. "She had sat staring at a blank sheet of paper for a long time."

She knew what she wanted to write: “Dear Mother, It was bad enough after the divorce, being without Dad, I mean. After a couple of years I got used to seeing him mostly on weekends, but now it’s worse. Because he’s dead. Three whole months and I still can’t believe it. "Maybe you can’t help being away so much, but with both of you gone it’s awfully lonely." Sure, there’s been school, and I did have dinner at Mim’s house and a move with Lorena on Saturday. But the good things are missing. Dad. Dad. Dad. I don’t feel that I’m part of a family anymore. Jase is a good enough stepfather, but I told you both how I felt about that condo in downtown L. A. and you guys went ahead and bought it. It’s a terrible place. "All there is to breathe inside is processed air and outside, car exhaust." My vote doesn’t count, does it, Mom?”

That’s what she wanted to say, but didn’t. “Mom,” she finally wrote, “I’ve gone to Twisted Creed. Papacito said he’d be there if I needed him. He won’t mind. After all, he is my only living grandparent. I’ll drive carefully, I promise. Please, please don’t be mad at me.” Then she had shoved two more sweaters into her suitcase, picked up her paint box and favorite brushes, and left.