“It’s actually really amazing. And trust me, you won’t ever forget seeing some of your peers doing absolutely ridiculous things. One of my friends, Connor Raskins, got hypnotized our freshman year and will still cluck like a chicken if you clap your hands quickly three times. Hypnotist Jerry has been coming for fifteen years and it’s always an amazing show.”

When I don’t respond, Bryce playfully nudges me with his elbow. His gentle touch, however slight, awakens something in me and now I’m the one smiling with the radiance of a thousand suns.

“OK,” I reply finally. “I’ll go. What time are you getting there?”

“’Round seven,” he says. “Cool. It’s a date.”

CHAPTER TWO

But it’s not actually a date. Bryce shows up with three friends, two men and one woman. All white. I can’t believe I’m stuck with him and three of his descendent-from-slave-owner (probably) friends. I find it interesting that Bryce participates in so many diversity initiatives, but I only ever see him with other white people in settings outside of the program. I want to ask him about it, but I don’t want to embarrass him like Earnell did earlier. It’s a bit strange and hypocritical, but otherwise Bryce is perfect.

“Hi, I’m Connor,” one of Bryce’s friends says, stepping forward to introduce himself. “I run a lot of the first-year hiking trips. Bryce’s told me a little about you. Nice to finally put a face to the name. I actually think you might be on one of my upcoming trips. Unless there’s another first-year named Echo. That’d be hilarious,” he says while laughing to himself.

I channel Earnell for a brief moment: “Why would that be funny?”

Before he has a chance to answer, one of Bryce’s other friends suddenly claps three times and Connor starts clucking like a chicken.

“Damnit, Brad!” Connor exclaims angrily. “Cut it out!” Connor turns to me and says, “That’s why I’m here. To get Hypnotist Jerry to reverse this. I was on a trip last year when he came, but I’m gonna corner him and force him to un-hypnotize me.”

“And I’m gonna convince him not to,” Brad says while playfully rubbing the top of Connor’s head with his fists. Connor wiggles away while shouting, “I told you to stop doing that, man. My scalp is super fragile since part of my skull is inverted. And you know that. This isn’t kindergarten.”

“It isn’t?” Brad snarks dismissively before clapping again, which prompts Connor to start clucking once more. “Damnit, dude!” Connor yells before charging Brad, who is buckled over in laughter. They wrestle until Bryce pulls them apart.