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By this time of year, every teacher I know hates people The kids are still okay, but people? Ugh

Except for Maria I still like her well enough And since she seeainst my door frame, I pull a thick roast beef sandwich out ofthrougheneration as Ava’s mom?”

I’irl Well, biologically I am But only if I popped out a baby in middle school

Which, knock on wood, I haven’t seen happen to any girl in this , so it’s early days yet

“I think so? If we aren’t, her ood for soe” Maria scrapes up another bite and conte morosely, “This is the cruel and unusual punishment part of our job”

“Talking on the phone or that salad?”

“Ha ha” She narrows her eyes at ot a direct line to Ranger Ranger”

My chest hollows out as er’s naly sweet combination of emotions inside me “Those are video calls Not phone calls”

“Same difference”

“It’s face-to-face” When it wasn’t face-to-classrooy students from his remote location in the Arctic Circle “You said yourself it’s different”

She waves that off “Is he calling in today?—it’s always Friday, right? Or did you guys already wrap up for the summer?”

My stohtens “Today’s the last day”

“Aw Well, I’ll tell you what you should do as soon as vacation starts: fly up to Alaska, hike to whatever er!’” she exclai her lashes “‘I’ina’s so rusty Can you save me?’”

“Rusty? I really hope that’s a reference tothe auburn curls down there ‘rusty’ is ina’s not rusty