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About that time, my mother walks into the kitchen She stops short when she sees Charlie "Did you spend the night here?" My mother doesn’t seem very pleased

"No" I lie for Charlie "I just picked her up this "

My mother’s eyes narrow I don’t have to have memory of her to know she’s suspicious "Why aren’t you two at school right now?"

We’re both quiet for a moment, but then Charlie blurts out, "It’s a flex day"

My ins speaking to Ezra

"What’s a flex day?" I whisper

Charlie shrugs "I have no idea, but it sounded good" She laughs and then whispers, "What’s your mother’s name?"

I open my mouth to respond, but I draw a complete blank "I have no idea I’m not sure I ever wrote it in any notes"

My mother peeks her head out of the pantry "Charlie, will you be joining us for dinner tonight?"

Charlie looks at me, and then at h and Charlie so through again

I catch Charlie staring at the clock on the oven I can see the worry, not only in her eyes, but in every single part of her I grab her hand and squeeze it "Don’t think about that," I whisper "Not for another hour"

"I have no idea how anyone could possibly forget howthe last bite of whatever it was that Ezra cooked for us Soht call it breakfast, but food like this deserves its own category

"What is this again?" Charlie asks Ezra

"Nutella French toast," she responds

Charlie writes Nutella French Toast down on a piece of paper and scribbles two hearts next to it Then she adds a follow-up sentence that says, You hate crawfish, Charlie!!!