Leeza has brought her illegal boom box (we’re not supposed to have them on campus) and a mixtape, so we have music. The whole time, Ma Elena’s bopping about taking photos on this little Instamatic camera that is adorbs even if the flash is basically like something a second grader has on their starter phone. I’m doing everything I can to stay out of the photos because it’s too trippy to think I might end up preserved for posterity in my own mom’s photo albums before I am born. I dart out of the shot at the last second or pretend to sneeze into my hand or turn to look away so many times that she gets the message. “Are you running from the law or just weirdly self-conscious?!”

“I’m from the future, and if you take my picture, it’ll mess with the space-time continuum!” Why not? They’re not going to believe me.

Ernie hears this and vibrates with excitement. “Like Back to the Future!”

(Wait—is that out yet? God, I wish I could google it. Where is IMDB when you need it?)

But Chaz joins in. “My family thinks movies are sinful—”

“Your family thinks everything is sinful,” jibes Leeza.

“I was trying to say I can’t go to the movies without sneaking out, but I saw the preview for that, and it looks so good. I’ll just have to find a way. That is if anyone will go with me …”

“I’m in!” Ernie is hopping up and down, and I feel a little bad for him. The invitation was meant for me, but Chaz can’t say that, obviously.

I play it cool. “When does it come out?”

“July 3!” Chaz and Ernie answer at once. I had no idea it was such a big deal at the time.

“Bummer!” Leeza cuts in. “I’ll still be working at Camp Cherokee, or I’d be there too. Where do you live, Ernie?”

“Canandaigua, but that’s like an hour and change from Syracuse.”

Ma Elena hates imprecision. “More like an hour and a half.”

“Not if you drive eighty-eight miles per hour,” I say in my best Doc Brown voice, and not only do they not react, Ernie thinks I mean it.

“The speeding ticket on that would be huge! My parents would kill me. But I can definitely come see it with you, Chaz. How about you, Maria Elena? Come with?”

“It’s two hours to Syracuse!”