Page 34 of Madam, May I

She pressed one foot atop the other as she leaned against the door and opened the text.

THE_TUTOR: SO PROUD OF YOU!!! THAT’S A CLASSIC.

DESI: Thank you! I’m proud of myself. Why are u up?

THE_TUTOR: GRADING TEST PAPERS.

DESI: Ur girl there?

THE_TUTOR: NAH.

Desi sent him a sad face emoji.

THE_TUTOR: WE’RE GOOD. SHE’S OUT OF TOWN.

DESI: Good. Don’t mess it up.

He sent the shrugging emoji.

She sent the praying hands.

THE_TUTOR: IS THE BOOK GOOD?

DESI: Yes. Better than the movie.

THE_TUTOR: . . .

She awaited his next text, tapping her thumbnail against the screen.

THE_TUTOR: . . .

Maybe he went back to sleep.

THE_TUTOR: I JUST ORDERED A COPY. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE BOOK AS WE READ IT. NOT A PART OF TUTORING. JUST FOR FUN. COOL?

Desi smiled and nodded as she texted him back:

Cool.

There were no more texts, and she dropped the phone back in the bag and climbed in her bed once again that night. As she snuggled beneath the covers and finally felt herself drifting to sleep, she was happy in knowing that for the first time in a long time she had a friend.

Chapter Six

Friday, October 19, 2018

Another year older. Time to do this next one differently from the last one . . .

“What’s with the crown?” Loren asked as soon as she opened the front door.

Desdemona tapped her pencil against the metallic leaf and organza headpiece adorned with rhinestones and pearls. “It’s not a crown,” she said, stepping back to admit him into her condo.

Loren turned his mouth downward and nodded as he removed his ever-present book bag. “Is there a reason for whatever it is?”

She smiled and gave a one-shoulder shrug. “It’s my birthday, Lo,” she said hesitantly, using the nickname she had given him over the weeks.

“Happy birthday, Ms. Smith,” he said, his face filled with pleasure.

“Thank you.”

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