I swallowed a sigh and pushed back from the table. “Come on, Oren.”

Without a word—obviously—he slid off his chair and followed me. But instead of going upstairs to my room, I led him back down to the basement.

I flicked through the channels until I landed on an old repeat of Jeopardy, one of my favorite shows. Dad and I sometimes watch together and compete to see who knows more stuff (it is almost always him, but I am getting better). Oren’s eyes seemed to light up, and he nodded when I asked if he liked it too.

What a relief that I wouldn’t have to struggle to find more things to talk about.

Just as the show was ending, Dad called us upstairs for dessert.

“Lemon meringue,” I told Oren as we started up the stairs.

We were almost at the top when my brother pushed past us. “Later,” he said as he hurried out the door.

I looked at Oren and rolled my eyes. “He’s probably gone to Nerdvana—it’s a local comic-book store where he hangs out with his friends.” I looked at Oren’s Batman shirt. “Maybe we can go there sometime.”

Oren nodded, looking like it was actually something he’d want to do.

Maybe comics were more his thing than VR gaming. I tucked that away for later.

The pie was already on the table, with one piece missing. Nate must have inhaled his before he ran out.

Mom was dishing the rest out onto plates. “Do you want some, Oren?” she asked.

He nodded.

I looked at him as he sat there, politely draping his napkin in his lap and waiting for everyone to get their pie before he even picked up his fork. His parents must have taught him his really nice table manners. That thought made me sad.

“So we’ve been chatting,” Dad said, interrupting my thoughts. “And we came up with an idea that we’re hoping you kids will be on board with.”

I looked from Dad to Mom to Jared and then back to Dad. “What kind of idea?”

Dad smiled. “We were thinking that with Oren’s… situation, and his being new to town and his uncle’s busy work schedule, perhaps Oren could spend his weekdays here.”

“What do you mean here?” I asked.

“He could walk here, or I would drop him off before I went to work, and he would spend the day with you,” Jared said. “You could show him around town, and he could even help you out with your chores and things. If you’re both okay with it, it would really help me out.”

Mom nodded. “It would give you two the chance to get to know each other better before Oren starts at your school in the fall. What do you think?”

At first my heart did a little happy flip at the idea. To have someone my age to talk to during the days. But then I thought about spending all day, every day, with a boy who never speaks. Yes, my mom would say I can talk enough for two people, but that doesn’t mean it’s fun. I want to talk with someone, not at them.