Page 84 of The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly

Of course I can handle it. In fact, I can do way better than that.

“SO, YOU’RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING STUPID?” SAYS CHRIS as we walk away from Len’s office.

“Most assuredly,” I say. “But it will also be grand and bold, and it’ll shake things up. If I pull it off, it should help, not hurt, your job prospects.”

“I’m not even sure I want this job,” says Chris. “Though it is a lot of money. But—and don’t tell Mom this—I applied for a transfer to the University of Chicago, and I got in. They’re going to give me a scholarship. If I take it, I’ll be set up for whatever engineering internship I want. But I’m not sure I can afford to commute and—”

“Chris! Congrats! That’s amazing news and we’ll totally make it work.”

“I think it’s what I need to do,” says Chris. “I don’t want to be Len in another twenty years. But what’re you going to do? Are you really going to let him parade you around like that?”

“If Layla and the others were still talking to me it would be different, but without them, I’m not sure what else I can do.”

“Talk to them. Tell them what Len said. I bet they’ll want to ride out with you. And Austin and I have already convinced most of the other Knights to let you ride in their places. If we stick to the original plan, you can be the Red Knight, Layla can be Blue, Alex can ride as Yellow, Mags as Purple, Penny as Black-and-White …”

“You forgot Green. What’s Lizzy going to do?”

“Yeah, Dalton’s not relenting.” Chris makes a face.

“Maybe we can plan for that. I can always give her the Red Knight costume and ride out as someone totally different. That is, if you know anyone who might have spare plate armor or chain mail in the garden shed.”

“Lucky for you I know a guy,” says Chris, grinning.

“This could work,” I say. “If I can convince the others.”

A task that is going to be harder than anything else I’ve done so far.

40

Kit to Knights for Days Group Text: Hi, Knights! I’m sorry I was such an ass. If you can forgive me, I have some news. Reply back so I know you’re there.

Kit: Okay, so nobody else is responding. And it’s been an hour. Which is fine. I’ll just leave this update here. Len’s given me permission to ride out tomorrow. (Really, he has. Ask Chris. He was there.) But it’s only for a quick loop or two and only as part of a show exhibition. He wants to demonstrate how progressive he is so he can get a promotion and suddenly I fit into those plans. But I was thinking … what if we all go out there? What if we stage a coup and have our tournament anyway? The Knights are still willing to trade with us. (You’ll ride out as Red, Lizzy, because Dalton’s not giving up his spot, because, Dalton.) We know all the moves. And we’re awesome. Want to join me?

Kit: Nothing? Really. Okay. Dammit. Friends. TALK TO ME.

Kit: Still nothing. Alright. Whatever. See you all at work tomorrow.

41

I WAKE UP AT 6:00 A.M., ON FRIDAY–THE DAY WE’RE SUPPOSED to all be riding out together and two weeks after I first took Chris’s place as the Red Knight. My phone’s in my hand. And I keep refreshing the group text chain. As if staring at it would make my friends reply, saying they’re not angry. My fingers hover, wanting to type something—anything—to make my friends forgive me. But what can I say? Clearly I’ve messed up. Badly.

I have to send something. Even though it’s super early.

Kit: Hello? Anybody there? Can we at least talk about this?

It’s a pathetic attempt, but at least I tried. Hauling myself out of bed, I go make coffee. Maybe my friends are still asleep. Maybe someone will write back soon.

By 7:30, when I should be leaving for school, there are still no replies.

A gnawing pang shoots through my stomach, which could be from the three cups of coffee I’ve just slammed, but it feels a whole lot like something else. Something sadder and lonelier.

Even Layla still isn’t speaking to me. Which is like our longest argument in a decade of friendship. Deciding I can’t face her, Alex, and Lizzy at school (again, perks of being a senior), I spend the day bingeing the entire The Lord of the Rings trilogy extended edition (we only make it halfway through Two Towers) with Chris and feeling sorry for myself.

By the time my alarm goes off, telling me it’s time to get ready for work, I’m no less motivated. I roll off the couch and flop onto the living room floor.

“I’m not even sure why I’m going tonight,” I say with a moan. “I mean, I can’t go to Marquette no matter what, so why do I need the promotion to knighthood? And Mom is going to move into a cheaper place soon, so we won’t need so much money for the house. And my friends aren’t talking to me. Remind me why I need this crappy job anyway?”

“Fool of a Took!” says Chris, sitting up to look at me. He pulls his gray sweatshirt hood up over his head. “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”