“Thanks so much, Mrs. Heard!”
Ryder sees what she handed me. “I’ve been wanting to read that one. My older sister said it was really good.”
I hand the book to him. “Here. Take it.”
My offer takes him by surprise. “No. You should keep it. I’ll go find something else to read.”
“Seriously. Take it. I can read it after you’re finished.” I push the book back at him.
“How ‘bout we share. Deal?” He holds out his hand for a shake.
“Deal.” I take his hand and pump it hard once.
“You’re really a nice person, Elizabeth. Thanks for helping me today.”
“No prob.”
“Hey you two. It’s time to head back to your class. I’ll let Ms. Pauling know you’re on your way.”
“See you on Friday, Mrs. Heard!” I grab Ryder’s hand and we make our way back to our classroom.
The rest of the school day goes by quickly. Ryder and I talk a lot. He’s really smart and funny. I tell him all about Jayson and Julien and how he’s going to love them, and we are all going to be best of friends. At recess, I introduce him to most of the third graders I know, and some fourth graders, too. He tells me about his old friends and school in Virginia. His dad opened an auto shop in town. He explains he was helping his dad change the oil for his mom’s minivan in the drivewa this morning and that is how his shirt got stains all over it. I feel bad all over again that Samantha and Jacinda were so mean to him earlier.
Once school is dismissed, I find Hailey at the pickup line to load onto our bus to go home, when Ryder steps next to me.
“Hey.” He gives my shoulder a bump.
“Hey you! You ride this bus too? You must live in our neighborhood. What street?”
“Our new house is on Fallen Brook Drive.”
“That’s where we live,” Hailey pipes up.
“Ryder, this is Hailey. My sister I told you about.”
I turn to Hailey. “Hales, this is Ryder. He’s in my class and I’m his class buddy. He has a little sister Brea that loves American Girl dolls.”
That fact gets her excited, “Really? How many does she have?”
Ryder looks up into the sky to do a mental calculation.
“About fifteen.”
“What! I only have three!”
Hailey must be super impressed because as we load onto the bus, she starts to beg Ryder if she can come over to his house and meet his sister.
“Why don’t you guys walk home with me when we get off? Brea should already be home. She’s in kindergarten so doesn’t go here yet.”
Ryder motions me and Hailey to sit in the seat next to him.
“Aisle or window?” he asks me. This boy is just so sweet.
“Aisle, please. Thanks.”
Hailey sits next to the window with Ryder sitting between us. I put my backpack down on the floor. Ryder takesWhere the Red Fern Growsout of his and opens it. He bumps my shoulder again and leans over.
“Want to read with me?”
