Now he realized Jordan hadn't.
For a moment, Caleb looked sick.
Then he handed the phone back.
"I'm not telling her."
Jordan looked surprised.
Caleb swallowed.
"But you need to tell your dad."
The younger boy lowered his head.
"I'm scared."
Caleb was quiet.
Then he put one hand on Jordan's shoulder.
"I know."
It was the first time either boy acknowledged aloud that something terrible was happening in their home.
Two days later, Caleb tried to help.
He waited until Vanessa left the kitchen, then placed an extra sandwich inside Jordan's lunchbox.
Jordan looked toward him.
"What are you doing?"
Caleb shrugged.
"Making lunch."
Jordan stared.
"Your mom's going to be mad."
Caleb looked toward the hallway.
"Then don't tell her it was me."
The boys exchanged a nervous smile.
For one morning, Jordan went to school with food.
He ate the sandwich during lunch and felt so relieved that he nearly cried.
When Mrs. Alvarez noticed him eating, she smiled.
"That looks good."
Jordan nodded.
He didn't tell her where it came from.
That evening, Vanessa discovered a sandwich wrapper in Jordan's backpack.
She demanded to know who had given him food.
The boy remained silent.
She questioned Caleb and Mia.
Neither answered.
Vanessa grew furious.
She accused Jordan of encouraging the other children to disobey her.
Then she announced that nobody would be allowed to take extra snacks without permission.
Caleb protested.
"Mom, he was hungry."
Vanessa turned sharply.
"Stay out of it."
"But—"
"I said stay out of it."
Caleb looked toward Jordan.
For the first time, he began understanding why the younger boy had become so frightened.
Marcus noticed his son's weight loss during a Sunday shopping trip.
Jordan tried on a pair of jeans in the clothing store.
The waistband hung loosely around him.
Marcus frowned.
"These are the same size you wore before."
Jordan shrugged.
"I guess."
Marcus looked more closely.
The boy's cheeks seemed thinner.
His collarbones were more visible beneath his shirt.
And the bright energy that once made him race through stores had faded.
Marcus crouched.
"Buddy, are you feeling okay?"
Jordan nodded.
"Yes."
"Have you been eating enough?"
For a moment, the boy froze.