I get up before the sun rises. I fold the blanket Gogo lent me and place it neatly on a chair. I don’t want to wake Stella or her grandmother so I sneak out quietly without washing my face and hands. The door locks itself when I close it as softly as I can. The early morning air is still chilly and I wrap my arms around myself to try to keep warm. I should have worn my new jacket last night.

I run the rest of the way to my tree and the exercise warms me. The tree’s bar...