Page 60 of When You Had Me Adapting

“Hey, Jace, over here,” Lacey’s voice calls from one of the swings. Poppy, our new neighbor, is on the swing next to her and they’re waiting on me. Yesterday, I challenged them to a “who could swing the highest” competition, and today is the day I kick both of their butts.

“It’s so weird they hang out with you,” Beau says as we approach the swings.

“Lacey, how are you friends with him?” Alex asks. “Don’t you think it’s weird he’s so obsessed with birds?”

Beau and Alex begin running around me with their arms outstretched, flapping them up and down like wings—both squawking and laughing. Poppy sits quietly watching them, but Lacey jumps off her swing and charges them. Her blonde pigtails bouncing as she does.

“Look at his dumb shirt,” Alex says.

“And his animal book,” Beau adds.

“Stop being such jerks. His shirt is cool and I gave him that book. Maybe one day you two will learn to read,” she yells, sticking out her foot and tripping Alex as he runs by her. “Oops,” she giggles.

Beau helps Alex up and they both stare stunned at the tiny girl who just brought Alex to the ground.

“I think it’s cool he likes birds and animals because I like them too.” She crosses her arms. “Especially the pixie bird.”

“Like a fairy?” Beau asks. “Dude, you like fairies?” He looks over at me.

I don’t say anything. I just smile and watch Lacey.

“So lame,” Alex says through fits of laughter.

“It’s not lame,” Lacey argues. “The pixie is really cool and it’s not a fairy. Jace is going to find it one day and the two of you will never do anything that cool.”

“Find it one day?” Beau asks.

“Yeah, find it? Because it’s not real?” Alex laughs.

She turns around and sits back down on the swing. “Come on, Jace. I bet I can go higher than both you and Poppy. See you never, Beau and Alex,” she giggles and sticks out her tongue. They stomp off and I take a seat next to her.

“I can stand up for myself,” I say, feeling a little embarrassed.

“I know you can, but no one is mean to my friends.”

“Well, thanks.” Her eyes find mine and for the first time I notice they’re green.

“Of course, and the pixie is really cool,” she says. “Poppy, you’re going to love it. Jace is super smart and knows a lot of cool animal facts. For his birthday last year I got him this book and it talks all about the pixie.”

“You know it’s called a Bixito Parrot, right? I call it the Bix for short. Not the pixie.” I start laughing and so do her and Poppy.

“I like pixie better,” she says.

“Me too.” I grin. “Now you ready to lose?” Both girls laugh, and we all start pumping our legs as hard as we can.

“Hey, Dad?”He’s sitting on the couch, and my mom is in the kitchen baking cupcakes for our school bake sale that’s tomorrow.

“Yeah, kid? What’s up?”

I sit down next to him and he mutes the TV.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure. Everything okay?”

“Oh, yeah, I’m fine.”

“You sure? You were awfully quiet at dinner. Barely touched your sloppy joe.”

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