After lunch, I’m going to leave school early. Rafael is going to pick me up and we’re going to the courthouse. Rafael, he’s going to adopt me. I guess the subject came up because I asked him if I could call him dad. I don’t know, but I have this thing inside me that needs to have a father. And Rafael has this thing inside him that needs to have a son. Yeah, I know I just turned nineteen, yeah, I know that. But I guess a part of me is still a boy. I used to wig out about that because I thought that I shouldn’t feel that way. But I do feel that way. So, I’m going with what I feel.
I remember the day when I asked Rafael if I could call him dad. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have any words in him. Tears in his eyes meant Yes, you can call me dad. You know, my dad, he’s dead. And I loved him and I’ll always love him. He did the best he could.
But I have Rafael now, and he really is my dad.
I’ve decided that this is the good thing about God. He gives you second chances.
So this afternoon, I’m going to get a new name. I’m not going to be Zachariah Johnson Gonzalez anymore. I’m going to be Zachariah de la Tierra.
I am in love with my new name.
I’m remembering the old Zach. I’m looking in the mirror at the new Zach. My eyes are hazel. Today they look green.
I pick up my cell phone and decide to call Adam. I haven’t spoken to him for months. I press in his number and wait. His voice mail answers and I smile at the sound of his voice. I am leaving him a message. “Hey, Adam. It’s me, Zach. Remember the happiness scale? Today, I’ve reached a 10 on that scale. Wow! A 10! I woke up this morning and discovered God had written happy on my heart. Adam, I’m having a great day.”
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
LITTLE PIECES OF PAPER
CONTENTS
WHAT GOD WRITES ON YOUR HEART
PERFECT
WHY I DON’T BELIEVE IN CHANGE
THINGS I DON’T WANT TO KNOW
SUMMER, WINTER, DREAMS
WHAT DOES THE MONSTER WANT?
THE MONSTERS OF NIGHT
THE REASON I HATE WINTER
WHEN RAFAEL STOPPED SINGING
THE WAKING
I HATE THEM FOR LOVING ME
THE MONSTER OF GOODBYE
THE LAST STORM
THE WORD CHANGE ON MY HEART?