Page 97 of The Same Flesh
Tean managed not to slam the door.But only barely.He stood there, hands trembling until he put one on the door like someone might try to open it.His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he yanked it out.It was going to be Amos, and Tean wasn’t sure what was going to come out of his mouth.
But instead, the message was from Amy.I need some medication I left at my house.
Tean stared at it.The words didn’t make any sense.And then he wrote back,What?
Her response came right away:It’s a shot.I didn’t think about it when I was packing.
He stared at the screen.He wasn’t thinking, because his head was empty.But after a moment, he wrote,Okay.I can get it.What is it?
Tresiba.
Where is it?
In the refrigerator.Top shelf on the left.
Okay.
He was still in his coat and shoes.He headed out of the bedroom and crossed the kitchen and living room at a brisk walk.
“I’m sorry I upset you,” his dad said.He still stood at the breakfast bar, holding on to the counter.
“You didn’t upset me,” Tean said.And he grabbed his keys and went out into the garage.
“Teancum, please, can we talk about this—”
This time, Teandidslam the door.
23
Jem reached for the radio.
“And they both act like they’re so progressive,” Daniel said.It was the third time he’d made a version of the same comment.“But they’re not.”
Jem dropped his hand.
“I mean, my dad is, like,worsethan closeted.”
“What’s worse than being closeted?”
“And my mom bought this stupid pride flag for the back of the minivan.”
“Okay.”
“Not the progress flag.”
“Oh.”
“Like, she didn’t eventryto learn anything.”
“Yeah, but she bought the flag.”Jem was proud of himself for not sayingthe stupid flag.
“But it doesn’t mean anything because she doesn’t actually want things to change.She’s totally into the Mormon patriarchy.Shewantsmen to tell her what to do.I asked her if she thought women should be able to get the priesthood, and she said the prophet told us that women already have access to priesthood power.”When Jem didn’t say anything, Daniel added, as though he was connecting the dots, “Shewantsto be oppressed.”
“Yeah, well, it’s probably a little more complicated than that.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”Jem flashed a grin.“Ask Tean.”
