The Truth According to Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig (books to read for self improvement txt) 📕

I’m sorry about the suitcase. I tried to keep it safe but I got scared when the police came.

Something you should know about me is that I get mad when people tell me they’ll do something and then they don’t do it. You should underline that part and then save this note in your pocket and not forget. Write back soon so I’ll know if you’re going to help me or not. Plus we have to figure out a way to get my Forever Parents to let me go with you. I don’t think kidnapping will work this time.

Yours Truly,

Ginny Moon

I say the letter over and over until it says exactly what I want it to say. Tomorrow I will ask my Forever Dad to help me write it all down.

EXACTLY 4:17,

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD

When I got to school this morning I looked out the window of the bus to the place where I saw the Green Car on September 14th. I wanted to see it but it was not there. I remember driving in the Green Car near the window that was broken. The plastic used to move back and forth and sometimes Gloria would stop to put more duct tape on it. Sometimes we used to sleep in the car when we went somewhere. Gloria said it was like camping but a lot more fun because when you go camping you have to sleep on the ground. We don’t want to sleep on the ground, do we? she used to say. I didn’t answer because I didn’t talk yet. I learned to talk when I was five.

That was a long time ago.

And now a man named Rick says he is my Birth Dad. I would like to get to know him but first I need to get him to bring me to Canada.

I come up out of my brain. I am standing on the bottom step waiting for my Forever Mom to turn around in the kitchen. I don’t want to say anything because I don’t want to make her mad. My Forever Sister is sleeping which is why my Forever Mom is downstairs. She comes down here sometimes when she thinks I’m not home or when I’m in my room with the door closed. I haven’t seen her in three days.

“Are you staring at me, Ginny?” she says. Without turning.

I start to answer but then I stop. I am starting to forget how to talk with her. I only know how to talk with my Forever Dad now.

“Ginny, I asked if you’re staring at me.”

“I’m waiting for you to turn around,” I say.

“And are you staring while you wait?”

Staring means you look with your eyes for a long time and don’t move. Some people say it’s tedious.

“Yes,” I say. I put my head down. “I am sorry.”

My Forever Mom turns around. She picks up a pan and puts it on the stove. “All right, what’s up?” she says.

She does not mean the ceiling or the sky so I try hard not to look in those places. “I wrote a letter to Rick,” I say. “I used my best handwriting.”

When I say Rick it sounds quiet and dumb like there is a piece of poop on the floor and everyone is looking at it. Poop always looks quiet and dumb. Sometimes I feel that way too.

“I know,” my Forever Mom says. “Your dad told me. Do you want me to hear it?”

“Yes, I do,” I say and then I read it.

Dear Rick,

My name is Ginny and I am 14 years old. I love Michael Jackson. He died on June 25, 2009. He has all the best moves. I also like to listen to Diana Ross. Do you know what she did? A duet with Michael Jackson.

But I am glad we can write letters. I never knew I had a Birth Dad even though everyone has one. Can you come visit?

Sincerely,

Ginny Moon

Because I found out that I can’t say what I really want to say in the letter when my Forever Dad helped me type it today. Today we spent exactly twenty-three minutes talking and typing. It started out the way I had it in my head last night but then I figured out that I had to change it. I will say what I need to say to Rick when he comes to visit. I will say it quietly in his ear. It will be our little secret which is something I heard in a movie.

My Forever Mom says, “You really think you’re ready to meet him already?”

I nod my head yes.

“That’s awfully trusting of you. Don’t you want to see what sort of person he is? Through his letters, I mean.”

I don’t know what it means to see what sort of person he is or through his letters so I don’t say anything.

“Don’t you want to see if you can trust him?” she says.

“How do I know if I can trust him?”

She laughs. I am surprised but I really like the way it sounds. “I suppose you’re right,” she says. “For now, let’s just send the letter. Leave it there on the counter, and we’ll type it up and send it to him in an email. There’s still no way we’re letting you anywhere near a computer. So we’ll type it all up and send it and then wait to see what Rick says when he emails back. If it all looks good, we’ll go ahead and schedule a visit. Probably at the park. You know, meeting your Birth Dad might just turn out to be a very good thing for all of us. Who knows what the future will bring?”

I can think of a lot of people who might know but I don’t say any of their names. Then my Forever Mom shuts the stove off and picks up the pan she was using and scoops some scrambled eggs onto a plate. I remember how Crystal with a C let me eat her eggs.