Homecoming probably wouldn’t be so bad if Nina and Beau were there. They did know some sign language. And at least I knew homecoming dances were never like what you saw on TV—no one breaking out into choreographed dances or songs, no embarrassing confessions of love from the homecoming king.

At the very least I knew I’d make an okay wallflower.

Nina ended up wearing down the last of my resistance about going to homecoming. She was nothing if not persistent, and she assured me homecoming at Engelmann was always a good time and the homecoming committee—which she was a proud member of—put on a good show. That was all fine and dandy, but I still had serious doubts I would end up enjoying myself.

But I went along with it anyway because it was nice hanging out with a friend when homework or school assignments were not involved. Nina had done so much to make me feel welcome at Engelmann, and if she wanted me to go to homecoming with her as her “friend date,” how could I say no?

Mom had a smile about a mile wide stuck on her face as she drove me to Nina’s house early on Saturday evening, a few hours before homecoming. Connor was in the backseat, engrossed in a video game. He still had plenty of time before he had to brave the perils of high school dances.

At a stoplight around the corner from Nina’s place, Mom turned to me and signed, YOU KNOW I BUY YOU NEW DRESS IF YOU WANT.

I HATE GO T-O M-A-L-L, I reminded her. Clothes shopping was the worst and had never been a favorite pastime of mine. I FINE BORROW DRESS FROM N-I-N-A.

SHOP FUN, Mom disagreed.

SOMETIMES, I signed back.

Mom pulled up into the driveway of the Torres’ house, and the front door whipped open a second later. Nina came bounding over to greet us, a peppy bounce in her step.

Mom rolled down the window to greet Nina, and she leaned into the car, waving happily. I tried to smile back, but I was still feeling a little iffy about this whole homecoming thing now that it was finally upon us.

“Promise . . . have good time,” Nina was saying to Mom, and Mom was laughing, nodding along as she spoke. “Homecoming always . . . fun.”

Nina peeked into the backseat next and waved to Connor, who somehow managed to return the wave without looking up from his Nintendo 3DS.

I grabbed my bag off the floor by my feet and gave Mom a fleeting hug before getting out of the car, promising to keep her updated throughout the night. She gave one massive yawn as she signed, SEE YOU LATER, and I stood there on the driveway for a beat, looking at her more closely. It wasn’t something I did often, but that yawn caught my attention.