My favorite book is on my nightstand. The Little Prince. It’s an old, worn copy that was my mom’s when she was a kid. My mom used to read it aloud to me when I was little. Even though I never read it anymore, I just like having it nearby. The book is about a little boy who comes to Earth from outer space. That’s how I felt on my first day at Poppy View—like I had just arrived on a new planet. My favorite page is the picture of the Little Prince on his planet, Asteroid B-612, which isn’t much bigger than a car. All around him in the drawing are stars and planets swirling around his asteroid. He looks like he’s the center of the universe but also like everyone has forgotten about him. That’s how I feel sometimes.

But I don’t want to carry a book around on the field trip. I bet Mercedes would make fun of me. I leave The Little Prince where it is and head to the kitchen.

It’s total chaos in here, as usual. Kenny is watching YouTube videos at full volume on his dad’s tablet. Bob is reading bits of news stories to my mom. Lucas is running in circles around the kitchen island, singing a song I recognize from his favorite cartoon show about a rat and mouse that solve mysteries. No one notices me.

I take my lunch bag and water bottle from the fridge and stuff it in my backpack. Mom turns around then and sees me. She calls over the noise, “What do you want for breakfast?”

My stomach grumbles, but I say, “I’m not hungry.”

Is it a lie, I wonder, if you don’t say something true? The truth is that today is the day I’m going to meet my dad and I’m too nervous to eat. But I can’t tell my mom. My mom looks so worn out. Happy but worn out. And I don’t want to worry her. It also feels like this truth is my truth, my secret. Is a secret the same as a lie?

“Well, take a granola bar with you.” She tosses me one with an expert throw. I fumble the catch and when it drops on the floor, Kenny laughs. I can’t tell if he’s laughing at me or at his screen. Lucas yells something about dinosaurs and spills his milk. “Have fun at your field trip,” Mom calls after me as I slip out the front door.