au where tenoch doesn't interrupt
"Well actually," Memo begins, nervous to be saying the news outloud because it made it feel more real, "my dad is taking a permanent job in San Diego and told me that we're moving at the end of the school year. I haven't told anyone yet, but I don't want to go and when I tried to talk to them about it, they didn't want to hear me out."
Ilse nods and tries to give Memo a reassuring smile. "Do you have any relatives that you could stay with if you could stay until you finish high school?"
Memo shakes his head. "No, both of my parents are only children and both sets of my grandparents live in the States. That's another reason why they want to go. They think that we'll see them more often."
"Take a seat, Memo. This sounds like it's been weighing on you heavily," Ilse gestures to the seat in front of her desk. "Y'know I read your assignment for your childhood memory. It wasn't a happy one."
Memo stares down at the floor. "Did I misunderstand the assignment? I didn't realize that we were only supposed to write about a happy memory."
Now Ilse shakes her head. She takes a deep breath and steadied herself, ready to help her student. "No, Memo, you didn't do anything wrong. Your relationship with your parents is complicated. Is it okay for me to ask about that? You don't have to share anything that you're not comfortable with."
She watches his face. Watches as something clicks for Memo. Watches as the tears well up in his eyes and his cheeks become red splotches. Ilse pats his back and murmurs that it's okay and that he can feel safe here to share or not share anything that he's feeling. That she'll try to help him.
Memo starts at the 10th birthday party and tells her about the resentment that he couldn't quite identify when he told Marifer. About the stress of being a new student every year and not even a well liked one. He tells her about Pascual and how he won't be taking care of him if they move and how this is the first place that he's ever made friends. He confesses that he's scared that it won't get better than this, but also angry so so angry and tired that he doesn't get a choice. He's lived his whole life without a choice.
Ilse listens and pats his back as he tells her this. She sometimes nods in confirmation and sometimes just sits silently. She tells him about her dad and how he died before he knew her. Before he knew who she would be, who she was.
"Have you told your friends any of this?"
Memo shakes a bit as he replies no.
"It's okay to ask for help, Memo. That's what we're all here for. Thank you for sharing that with me," Ilse tells him and smiles.
Looking like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders, Memo finally looks up and asks, "What should I do?"
Ilse steadies her shoulders and responds, "I'll talk to your parents, Memo. We'll work something out."