Franklin is the Connecticut town my family lived in before moving to California. It’s a really pretty town, with tree-lined streets and some old houses that date back to the 1700s. The leaves on the trees would turn orange, yellow, and red each autumn before falling off. I really missed that, and the change of seasons in general. We’d also get huge snowstorms in the winter, and snow days where we wouldn’t have to go to school. Kara lived only a few blocks away from our old house, so I’d go to her house and we’d build snowmen or take our sleds up to the hill in her backyard and go racing down. Then we’d have hot chocolate and cinnamon toast and warm up in front of Kara’s living room fireplace.

I felt a wave of homesickness overwhelm me, and my eyes filled up with tears.

“Devin, what’s wrong?” Kara asked, her brow creasing with worry.

I was sitting in the passenger seat next to my mom, and I saw her shoot me a glance out of the corner of her eye. This is why I usually video chat with Kara in the privacy of my own bedroom, but I needed a pep talk from my very bestest friend before the photo shoot.

I decided to be honest, even with my mom listening.

“When you mentioned Franklin, I just got all homesick,” I told Kara. “I’m so lucky that I’ve made so many great friends in California, but I miss you and our old house so much sometimes. I wish I could come back for Charlotte’s birthday party to visit.”

“Yeah, what’s the status on that? Any chance you can come?”

With that, my mom jumped into the conversation.

“We are considering it, Kara.” My mom raised her voice a bit so Kara would be able to hear her. “It’s a little tricky because it will involve time off from school for Devin, the plane trip is expensive, and on top of that, Devin would be flying alone. It’s a long flight.”

“I did it, Mrs. Burke.” Kara had come to California for a surprise visit last fall. “It wasn’t so bad. I had a direct flight, so it wasn’t like I had to change planes or do anything scary. Plus, the flight attendants knew I was traveling alone and were super nice, and someone from the airline escorted me from the plane to the gate where you and Mr. Burke picked me up.”

My mom nodded slowly. “You know something, Kara? I had forgotten all about that. With the airline’s help, it could be a possibility if we can work the rest out.”