“Hedidgraduate high school.That’s the important part.”
“But he needs all the stuff that goes with it.He needs to do all the dumb, expensive things that everybody has to do because that’s what you do when you graduate high school.Like a yearbook ad.”
“I think it’s too late for a yearbook ad.”
“Or senior skip day.”
“He had, like, thirty of those.Indira had to bribe Dr.Xu to write Keme a note.”
“Or senior sunset!Oh my God, Bobby, senior sunset is so special.”
Bobby nodded, but then he said, “Babe, I love that you want this for Keme, but, well, it’s a little late.”
Then I knew what I had to do.I squared my shoulders.I looked Bobby in the eye.And I said, “It’s never too late to right a wrong.”
Bobby looked like he was engaging Maximum Patience mode.
“How does that sound?”I asked.“I think I’m going to have Will Gower say it.”
2
“Why do I have to go outside?”Keme asked as I shepherded him (AKA, shoved him) through Hemlock House and toward the door.
“Excellent question,” Fox asked.Today, they were wearing what I thought of asCruella de Vil goes to war—a lot of faux fur, and one of those spiky helmet thingies that made me think of the Kaiser.For some reason, it included a gauzy swatch of fabric that was being used—I believed—as a cape.“Why does any of us have to go outside?”
“I love going outside,” Millie said.“My mom read a study once from the US Department of Physical Education.It says everyone should play outside for three hours a day, minimum, into theirthirties.Even when it’s raining!”
I had my doubts about the existence of a US Department of Physical Education—and my suspicions about why Millie’s mom had been so gung ho about making her children into Outdoor Kids—but I couldn’t respond; I was too busy keeping Keme from snaking under my arm and going back to the Xbox.
“You wouldn’t get away with this if it weren’t for your goon,” Fox said, sweeping their cape dramatically in Bobby’s direction.“Unhand me!”
Bobby looked like he might be reconsidering his life choices.Specifically, his boyfriend choices.
“We’ve got perfect weather,” Indira said.“We’re going to have a lovely time.”
Keme said something about this under his breath, and let me tell you: if Indira had heard him, he wouldnothave had a lovely time.
With a final burst of energy—and shoving—I got Keme out the door, and the rest of us tumbled out of the house behind him.It was, as Indira had said, a beautiful day: bright sun, blue sky, cotton-ball clouds scattered here and there, and a cool breeze.
Keme said, “Okay, fine, we’re outside.”
Fox drew their cape over their face, shrank down, and hissed.
Indira chafed her arms and said, “Maybe I should get my cardigan.”
And Millie did a cartwheel.
It was a really good one, too.And she didn’t have to warm up or anything.
Bobby shut the door behind him.Firmly.
“Happy Senior Field Day!”I announced.
From under their cape, Fox said, “What?”
“Senior field day,” I said.“Keme didn’t get a field day because he was trying to pass all his classes, so we’re going to make it up to him.”
“I don’t want a field day,” Keme said.“I want to play Xbox.”
