“I’ll take her to the bathroom!” Francine hurried Nova down the hall. Nova was relieved. She often didn’t realize she had to GO until it was almost too late, and even when she did recognize the signs, she didn’t know how to tell anyone. At home she could run into the bathroom and screech if she couldn’t get her overalls off fast enough by herself, until Francine or Joanie came to help.

Once Nova closed herself into a stall, she was able to look around. The bathroom walls and ceiling were white, but the stall doors were the same orange as the lockers. Some girls had used permanent markers to write their names in block letters, visible even through the new paint job. Nova reached out to trace a bubbled B with her fingertip. B for Bridget.

After she flushed, Nova pulled her overalls up and stepped out of the stall so Francine could fasten them. Francine also reminded Nova to wash her hands with soap (which was silly because Nova always washed her hands with soap), then led her back out into the hall.

“We’re going to show you the special education room now, Nova. Mrs. Pierce is looking forward to meeting you.” Principal Dowling glanced at Billy. He wasn’t speaking in that strange forceful way anymore, which made Nova happy.

“Right this way, m’dear,” said Billy in a silly English accent. He took Nova’s hand and twirled her under his arm. She let out a squeak of laughter.

Principal Dowling unlocked the door to the large, brightly decorated classroom at the end of the hall. “Mrs. Pierce just returned to us in September. I don’t know if she mentioned it at your meeting last week, but she spent two years on sabbatical in California, studying the latest techniques for teaching children with autism. We’re excited for her to implement what she’s learned.”

Nova glanced around. Across from her was a massive poster of the solar system that made her breath hitch in her throat. Glossy and bright, featuring all nine planets and Earth’s moon. It was beautiful. Too beautiful. Her body began to bounce. Even NASA Bear was excited.

Billy and Francine encouraged her to look around, to see what else the classroom had to offer. It wasn’t easy, but she tore her eyes from the solar system.

Along one wall were bookshelves, and taped up all over the other wall were laminated cards featuring shapes and colors, so many shapes and colors. By the bookshelves were posters from nursery rhymes and a small play area with a beanbag chair, plus regular chairs on a bright blue rug arranged in a semicircle. Near the laminated cards were desks and tables, each with a name tag for the student who sat there. Nova closed her eyes and covered her ears as Billy and Francine led her around, prompted by the principal.