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Because I need there to be one.“Did you know that it was a series of challenges he had to get through?”

“Yeah, kinda.”

I feel myself growing irritated. “Can you use full sentences, please? What did he say?”

“He just said he had to play some games. I thought he meant video games.” He looks over his shoulder at Holden, working his way across the playset. “This is cool, too. I’m happy to help.”

“Did he say why he wanted to do it?”

“To win? I think he should sell the headset for major cash. Maybe he’s going to. I don’t really know.”

I run with this. “Do you think he needs the money? From selling the headset?”

He scratches his neck. “For sure. He hates taking money from his mom and if he could sell this thing, he’d be looking at getting over a thousand dollars.”

“He probably wants that money for college, right?”

“I don’t think anyone wants to spend their money on college, but, you know, theyneedto. And art school is hella expensive. So unnecessary.”

“Holden’s pretty talented.” I’ve seen his photos. It would so obviously be a lie to pretend he’s not.

“Yeah, for sure. He has this wild list of all the photography-related scholarships he can go for. He’s just waiting for the day to press send.”

“Has he said anything about funds being tight?”

“Well, he’s always talking about how the minivan is on its last legs. And how expensive his stepsister’s tuition is, and she’s at, like, astateschool.” He tucks his hands into his jacket pockets and rocks back on his feet. He doesn’t look at me when he says, “I know love is great and all, but can you imagine knowingyou’re signing up to spend double the amount of money on kids than you planned to? Yikes.”

“Holden probably feels like he should contribute, right?” That’s how I feel, at least. And this money angle, maybe it’s not totally fictional.

“Well, he babysits Mar-Mar. Mara, his little stepsister,” he clarifies to my camera.

“She’s old enough to take care of herself, though. And that time spent babysitting her could be spent working a job that paid him.”

“You got me there!” he laughs. “I guess this is the easiest way for him to make a lot of cash fast. I mean, how long did it take you to make a thousand dollars at your job?”

I’m not even sure Ihavemade a thousand dollars yet. A thousand dollars for a VR headset. For a month’s rent.

“Why don’t you tell me about the first time you met Holden. Or why you wanted to be his friend?”

He thinks for a minute as Holden rounds the obstacle course another time, having fallen off the playset. “We met in sixth grade. We had the same shoes on.”

“What kind of shoes?”And did he really base a friendship off having the same shoes?

“Black Converse.”

Did he really base a friendship off having the same shoes that everyone has at least once in their life?

“Taj?”

“Yes, Saine?”

“You’re friends with everyone, huh?” I ask with a kind smile.

He grins. “What can I say? I am a very friendly guy.”

“And Holden?”

“Yeah, he is too. He’s, like, overly kind to people, even the ones who don’t deserve it sometimes. Everyone likes him; he’s a good dude.”

Taj’s comments about money are helpful—I should be happy I got them on camera. It’s not enough, though. I need more. There’s got to bemorehere. And I’ll just keep faking it until I make it.