“I’m sure they’re great,” e says. “I mean, you seem like the type of person who’d be a great writer. Have you ever considered pursuing it professionally?”

I shrug again. “It’s not really that kind of writing.”

I turn back to look at em, but e’s already moved on, sifting through some file folder. I kinda want to ask em what e meant by that, but I’m also worried I won’t like the explanation, so I put the last bottle of glitter down and say, “What’s all this stuff for, anyway?”

“I just thought the kids could work on some Fourth of July decorations, you know? Something to hang up around this place.”

Today’s Friday, which means starting on Monday, we’ll be settled with a whole new batch of kids. Personally, I find it refreshing. It’s a relief to know the kid who flung a pencil at me on Wednesday won’t be around much longer, and it’s kind of cool to meet new kids, each bringing something unique to the table. But I know Devin misses them. Even after the kids are long gone, e talks about each of them individually, like they’re people e knew for a lifetime instead of a few days. I guess it makes sense since e’s homeschooled now and probably doesn’t have a lot of friends.

“You didn’t ask me to draw anything nice,” I joke.

Devin cringes. “Yeah, about that. Your art is—well, let’s just call it a work in progress.”

I laugh. “About that party on Saturday.”

Devin turns to me, but eir eyes seem to be having trouble finding mine. “What about it?”

“I spoke to Drew about it, and he says he’s down to go,” I say.

And Devin’s face lights up as e smiles. “Really? You’re coming?”

I nod because eir smile kind of has me frozen. Drew thought the whole idea of a recycling party sounded corny, but I talked him into it by promising we’d go to a getty at his friend’s place beforehand.

“I’m so glad you can make it,” Devin says. E seems to suddenly realize that e was supposed to be working on something and jumps back to it. “I know you probably have a ton of other things you could be doing, but it really means a lot to me that you’re coming.”