“You didn’t?” I asked. “Like you got a busy signal?”
“Yes.”
“Wow.” I hadn’t considered that was possible. “Okay, I’ll try to give you advice, but honestly, asking a friend would probably be just as effective.”
“No, you don’t hold back. I like that.”
I scoffed.
It didn’t faze him. “I want to try out for football.”
“Okay,” I said, not understanding what part of that required my opinion.
“But look at me,” he said.
I did. He was a small guy. I’d initially thought he was a freshman, but maybe he wasn’t. “That’s what pads and helmets are for, right? You obviously won’t be on defense. Maybe you can be the catcher person.”
He scrunched up his face.
“See, you should ask your friends,” I said, backing up. “Or ask Victoria, she’s sporty. I know nothing about football.”
That didn’t deter him. “I would try out, even being as small as I am, but it’s my parents. They won’t let me.”
I stopped in my retreat. “Oh.”
“Yeah, my mom’s afraid I’ll break every bone in my body and my dad doesn’t even like football. He told me I’m more suited for golf.”
“Golf is cool.” I thought of Diego. “One of my friends hit a golf ball through the goalposts from the hill behind the stadium.” I paused for a minute. “Off topic?”
“Slightly.” The boy yanked on his backpack straps. “And by the way, your friend is exaggerating. I’ve seen guys try to do that and fail miserably.”
I stepped out of the way to let a group of kids pass us. “Right?” I said. “That’s what I told him. He swore, though. I really should have him prove it to me.”
“Back to me, here.”
I laughed. “Okay, let’s see. I’m kind of stumped on this one. I can see where your mom is coming from.”
“Thanks a lot. This is why I should’ve called in. You wouldn’t have been able to see me and be influenced.”
“You’re right. So if I couldn’t look at your totally breakable bones, what would I say?”
He bit his lip as if his life depended on my answer. I gave it some more thought, then spoke again.
“I’d say, compromise?” I suggested. “Tell your parents that if they let you try out for the football team and you don’t make it, then you’ll try golf.”
His eyes lit up. It was the part about giving advice that I didn’t get on the podcast, the part where I could see that the solution presented made sense to them.
“That’s … a good idea,” he said.
“Don’t act too surprised.” Although I was. I had given advice … good advice … without Victoria there to back me up or elaborate.
I started to look around again, in search of Alana. She hadn’t answered any of my texts and she wasn’t in our normal place—our lunch bench—but she wasn’t in any of our not-so-normal places, either. I sighed and noticed my advice-asker was still standing in front of me.
“This is obviously advice for next year, right?” I asked. “Since football season started weeks ago.”
“Yes.”
“So you have a whole year to put on some weight. Do that Michael Phelps diet thing.” I may or may not have watched a documentary about Michael Phelps.
“What diet is that?”
“The one where he basically eats all day and works out in between eating. Or at least he did when he was training for the Olympics.”
“Sounds painful,” he said.
“I agree.” I gave him a small wave. “I better go. Thanks for listening to our show.”
I took a step to my right when I heard another voice say, “Wait.”
I turned around and saw that a petite girl with long black hair had been standing behind the football boy, as if there was a line forming.
“Hi?” I said to the girl.
“I wanted advice, too.”
I shot the football guy a look, and he left with a shrug.
“Okay, what can I help you with?” Maybe I needed to set up a booth and start charging. Thankfully, the girl asked an easy question, about which way I thought would be better to ask her girlfriend to Fall Festival. I answered her, she nodded happily, and I took off at a fast walk toward the library.
Once inside, I stepped behind the nearest shelf of books. I let out a breath, and freed my phone from my pocket to see that Alana had texted me back.
Alana: I’m making a presentation.
Me: What does that mean? I’m in the library.
Alana: I’ll explain later. The library? Why?
Me: I’ll explain later.
Alana: Lunch is almost over. I’ll see you in podcasting.
I tucked my phone away. Lunch was almost over, and I hadn’t eaten anything. My hunger did not outweigh the thought of facing the commons again, though. I peeked out from behind the shelf and scanned the library, wondering if there was a vending machine in here. I obviously did not frequent the library enough.
Then I saw Max sitting at one of the long oak tables in the center. I smiled and made my way to him. He was sketching in a notebook like he often did these days, more dedicated than I’d ever seen him to his comics.
“Brother,” I said. “Tell me you have food.” I sank into a chair across from him.
“We can’t eat in here. It’s against the rules.”
“Really? So where do you eat?”
“I eat on my walk over here.”
“That’s some fast eating. That cannot be good for your digestion.”
He gave me a Max look, one that said he didn’t think I was as funny as I thought I was.
“It wasn’t meant to be a joke,” I said.
He gave me a half smile this time.
“That’s better.” I took in all the empty chairs around us. “Where are your friends?”
“They like to eat at lunch,” he said.
“Jerks.”
That one got a chuckle.
A moment later, Liza walked in and sat down next to Max. “Are we having a family meeting?” she asked. “Nobody told me about a family meeting. I thought I was going to help you on the girl voice in your comic. Did you ask Kate to help you, too?”
“Don’t worry, he didn’t ask me,” I said. “I’m not sure if I should be offended or not. I’ll let you both know in a minute.”
“Don’t be offended,” Liza said. “I’ve read more of his comic than you have, so I know what he’s looking for.”
“Now I’m pretty sure I’m doubly offended.”
She rolled her eyes. Max didn’t grace me with a response. I kicked his foot under the table but then turned my attention to Liza.
“How was tutoring yesterday?” I asked her. This was the first week she’d gone without me.
Liza’s eyes went to the tabletop, and a small smile played at her lips. “It was good.”
“I’m proud of you for going on your own.”
“Are you making fun of me?” she asked, snapping her head up.
“What? No. Did it sound like I was making fun of you?” Apparently I needed to work on my tone.
“A little. But thanks.”
“Is Aunt Marinn going to make you keep going after the first quarter?”
“I don’t know. But you were right. It’s not bad having a time where I’m forced to do my homework and someone on hand ready to help.”