The Moretti Girl They Left Behind

On the first day of summer break, my parents found me another job.

""A front counter job at the Moretti family's deli. The pay is decent, and you'll learn how business works.""

From freshman year to senior year, they had said the same thing for four years.

The first year, they sent me to count stock in the family warehouse while taking Sofia to Washington to watch the Independence Day fireworks.

The second year, they made me work night shifts at a corner convenience store, then turned around and arranged driving lessons for Sofia.