Well, I was planning to take Oren next door to look at some stuff—the more boring things probably, but I couldn’t tell Mom that. “Not much,” I said with a shrug. “Maybe some more gardening or something.”

“Speaking of gardening,” Mom said. “Since we don’t need you next door, can you go down to the garden store? Mr. Lansky has a box there for us.”

“Are you sure? I mean…” I darted my eyes toward Oren, who had no idea why it might be awkward for us to go.

Thankfully, Mom seemed to clue in. She bit her lip. “Oh. Right…uh…good point. But it’s just clay pots.”

My phone binged. A text from Oren.

Let’s go!

“All right then.” I shrugged. “I guess we’re going to the garden store.”

“Good.” Mom opened up her wallet and took out a twenty-dollar bill. “Here you go. Get some ice cream on the way home. Your dad and I won’t be home for lunch, but I’m sure you two won’t starve.”

Her right eyebrow went up. “Should I bother telling you to fix yourselves something other than ice cream?”

“Probably not,” I said. “Anyway, bananas make it health food, right?”

Mom rolled her eyes and laughed. “You are so your father’s daughter,” she said as she went out the door.

Fifteen

As soon as Mom was gone, I grabbed a couple of shopping bags and the hats we’d worn the day before. I handed Oren his and put the other one on my head. I was strapping on my sandals to walk to the garden store when my phone sounded. I pulled it out and read the text. It was from Oren, even though he was standing right behind me.

Will you show me?

I didn’t pretend not to know what he was talking about. I turned and looked at him. “You sure you still want to go next door to see…stuff?”

He nodded. But he looked scared at the same time.

“You’re absolutely sure you want to see everything?”

He took a long breath and nodded again.

“Fine,” I said. “But we have to go to the garden center first. If I don’t get the pots, my mom will be mad. And don’t forget ice cream.” It was never too early for ice cream.

He nodded again and then we were on our way. It was already hot out, and I was glad we’d put on hats before we left.

I was going to tell Oren the reason for the clay pots on the way to the store. But the more I thought about it, the more I didn’t want to. Not just because what my parents used them for was weird, but mostly because if he asked me the reason, I wouldn’t be able to answer. The truth was, I didn’t really know why. It was a tradition or a law or something.

But yeah, also kinda weird.

So instead I filled the time talking about random stuff.

After a while I got sick of listening to myself.