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July 25, 2018
I’m not speaking to Birdie. Ever. She went behind my back and not only applied for college, but actually got in and registered for classes. Apparently, she has been squirreling away her wages all this time. That money was supposed to be for us to live off of. Selfish little bitch. Well, good riddance. She’ll be crawling back here asking for forgiveness in no time once she realizes she can’t stand to be away from me and can’t hack it in school.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Iopen my laptop and check my emails. My heart sinks. Looks like the US Government is on their shit again. Are the SSA and Homeland Security working together to bend me over? This is one hell of a welcome home present. The last couple of weeks have been some of the happiest in my life, why does it have to be like this?
Attention!
Your travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will expire within the next 30 days. It is not possible to extend or renew a current ESTA.
If you enter the United States under the VWP you are not permitted to extend your stay in the United States beyond the initial admission period. You must depart the United States on or before the date on your admission stamp when you entered the United States.
Staying beyond the period of time authorized by the Department of Homeland Security, and being out-of-status in the United States, is a violation of U.S. immigration laws and may cause you to be ineligible for a visa in the future for return travel to the United States.
Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.Where’s my phone? The contents of my purse scatter all over the table as I shake it upside down. My phone clatters out, and I snatch it up. I need to talk to my parents.
“Mom? I just got an email that my VWP is expiring. What should I do?”
“Shit.” This is my first time hearing her swear.Well done, Ma.
“I know. What do I do?” I repeat.
“Let me talk with your dad. We need to figure this out. I would have thought that your social security documentation would be overturned by now. Why is it taking so long? Can you come over tonight? I’ll make dinner, and we’ll go over everything.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll bring all my info.”
“Have you told Lonan?”
“Not yet.”
“Mmm.” I know I should tell him, but I’d rather go to him with solutions, not problems.
“I will. I just need to have a plan first. There has to be a way we can speed up the social security office. We have police reports and documentation. And... and... I’m breathing and alive! God, it’s like trying to convince someone the sky is blue.”
“We’ll figure something out.”
* * *
After two hours of trying to find a loophole, we are stuck. There are papers strewn across their dining room table. Three open laptops, a pile of newspaper clippings, there’s even an open encyclopedia. Who even has an encyclopedia anymore? Oh yeah,rich people.The four of us, Dad, Mom, Jack, and I are at a stalemate. I spin in the office chair. Isn’t there something about movement that makes your brain figure out problems?
I pick my phone up and I see six missed calls and a handful of texts from Lonan. My phone was on silent.Shit.
Before I can text him back, he strides through the front door with purpose.
“Birdie, what the hell?” He holds up his phone, then freezes.
“Whoa. What is going on in here?”
“I’m sorry I missed your calls. We’ve just been working through some stuff.”
“Like? Care to elaborate on your vagueness?”
I go back to spinning in circles. “I need to find out how to get me off of the Master Death File quickly.”
Lonan simply stares. “The Master what? Is that a band name?”
