Page 54 of Sycamore Circle

He shrugged. “It is how it is, right?”

She wished she could see him more often. See him when he wasn’t working. “Hey, where do you live, Finn?” Maybe they could meet some place in between their houses on Saturday or something.

His expression shuttered. “You know where I live. It’s a couple miles away, where most of the Amish live.”

“That’s not very helpful.”

“That’s all you need to know, though. Right?”

“Uh, no.” She was starting to feel embarrassed about her idea of meeting him someplace. “Hey, Finn, if you’re kind of far away, how do you get here? Does your aunt pick you up?”

“No. I’ve got a scooter.” He paused, like he was waiting for her to tease him.

She wouldn’t do that. “At least you have that, huh?”

He continued to stare straight ahead. “The scooter is fine. It gets me wherever I need it to.”

“You’re right. Except when it snows.” She smiled.

“I reckon my feet will get me here when it snows.”

Now she was even more embarrassed. She had two parents willing to cart her around while he didn’t even have one. “I’m sorry you have to walk so much.”

He kicked out a boot-covered foot. “My feet aren’t special like yours. I couldn’t stand on my tiptoes like you can no matter how hard I tried.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m thinking about getting my driver’s license. I won’t be able to get a car or anything, but maybe sometimes my mom will let me use hers. And then I could drive you home.”

“You could... I suppose.”

She laughed. “What do you mean? Would you not trust me?”

At last his expression lightened. “Since you haven’t driven a foot yet, no, I don’t.”

“What? I’m offended.”

“You’re crazy. That’s what you are,” he teased.

She smiled. “I still want to see you more often. You know. More than just when I’m here getting ready to go to dance class. Can you get away on one of your days off?”

“I could try. Maybe... I don’t know.”

“Oh.”

“Chloe, things at my house aren’t real, um, happy. My father gets confused a lot. He gets angry too. He doesn’t like me to leave even when it’s for work.”

“I’m sorry.”

He nodded. “I am too. I wish my dad’s brain was healthier or that he was nicer to me. That’s why I, um, don’t sound too eager for you to come to my house. It ain’t a happy place.”

“I’m glad you told me. I thought maybe you didn’t like me as much as I liked you.”

“I like you just as much. I’ll try to figure something out.”

“Is there any way we can talk on the phone at all? Do you have a phone?” Realizing he likely didn’t, she shook her head. “Sorry. Forget I asked. I bet it’s against the law for you to have one, huh?”

He chuckled. “It’s against our rules, jah, but I’m technically in my rumspringa.” And he was planning to leave anyway. “I’ll try to get one.”

“Never mind. I’m sorry. They’re expensive.”

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