“I don’t know . . . I just . . . I don’t know . . .” My voice trails off like a bird flying away from the shore. “You don’t usually ask me to get dressed up and take me out. I’m even wearing shoes.”

“Well, it must be a special day.” She smiles.

“Is there a reason you’re taking me out? Do you have bad news or something?”

“Goodness no! We used to go out. When you were younger. And I guess I realized that we hadn’t been out in a long time. And I’ve missed it.”

“Oh.”

“So,” she begins. “How are things?”

I have a feeling she knows the answer.

She waits for me. And that’s how it is with Esme. She’ll ask a question she knows is hard to answer, and the air is filled with nothing but her waiting and smiling while you try to figure out what to say.

“Okay, I guess,” I finally answer. Too much to explain.

And I like that Esme doesn’t press me. She knows I’ll talk when I’m ready. Being with her is a relief in a world where holding on to people feels like trying to hold on to wet fish.

I look around and do a double take at an odd painting—and then realize that the room is filled with them.

“Geez. Weird paintings,” I say, staring at a goofy-looking boy and girl holding hands and coming down a hill. Next to it, there’s an egg wearing a man’s suit and hat sitting on a wall with a bunch of happy soldiers all around.

She points. “Can you figure it out? Keep in mind we’re in the Optimist Café.”

I know what an optimist is. Henry and Esme are always calling themselves optimists and telling Olive to not be such a pessimist. That life is too short.

She points at the goofy boy and girl. “Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water, but Jack did not fall down and break his crown.” Then she points at another. “And there.” A girl with a bonnet who is surrounded by sheep. “Little Bo-Peep did not lose her sheep.”

Corny, but I like them. I point this time. “What about that one?” I ask about a bridge with a clock tower behind it.

“I guess London Bridge is not falling down.” She points at a far wall. “Little Miss Muffet enjoying a snack with a spider.”

I turn and smile. “Cool. Very optimistic.”

After a few seconds, I notice Esme’s necklace. “Oh! You’re wearing your elephant necklace I used to play with when I was little. Didn’t I name it something dumb?”

She laughs. “Trunkie. But you know, you were only about three years old. So you were advanced for your age.”

“I don’t think so.” I put down my menu and stare at the elephant, trying to come up with something to say. The waitress saves me by coming to take our order. After she leaves, I ask, “Why do you like elephants so much? I mean, they’re not really cuddly like bears.”