Page 36

Thirty-Six

Bodhi

“So, what are everyone’s weekend plans?” Miss Jade asks on Friday afternoon.

I listen since Kyleigh told me that if I hear about Miss Jade doing something, I should tell them. She came to the game on Monday, but I heard Daddy telling Conor it was because of some deal, so I don’t know if she really wanted to be there.

She was so nice at the game. Bought me a pretzel, and when we went to McDonald’s, she told Dad to let me have some ice cream. And he listened! He never listens when I tell him I should be allowed to get an ice cream.

Best school night ever.

“What are you doing?” I ask her.

She smiles at me as she always does. She has such a pretty smile. “I’m going to Navy Pier with my friend Eloise.”

“You’re not a kid,” Micha says.

“You don’t have to be a kid to go to Navy Pier.”

“But what will you do?” Katie asks.

She laughs. She has a pretty laugh too. “There’s a lot for adults to do there. So, what is everyone else doing?” She turns to Micha. “How about you, Micha?”

Everyone in the class says what they’re going to do, but Daddy has a game on Saturday, and it’s far away, so I’m not sure I can get him to Navy Pier on Sunday. I have to remember to tell Kyleigh. Maybe she can think of something.

Later that night…

“Daddy, can I go show Kyleigh my drawing?” I hope he doesn’t want to come with me. I waited for him to be busy making dinner.

“Sure, but only straight up to them. Let me text them to tell them you’re coming.” He pulls out his phone.

I wait by the door, ready for him to tell me I’m allowed to leave. I tap my foot.

“Kyleigh is going to wait for you. Go ahead.”

I open the door and run up the stairs.

Kyleigh steps outside of their condo. “Bodhi, let’s see what you’ve got.” She smiles and holds out her hand.

I shake my head and rush inside.

Rowan is on the couch watching TV. “What’s… Bodhi, take a breath.” He sits up, and his feet go to the floor from the coffee table.

I stop and try to catch my breath. “Miss Jade… is going… to… Navy Pier… Sunday.”

“Oh.” Kyleigh sits on the edge of the couch.

I place my pretend drawing on the table. “Can you get Daddy to go?”

Rowan looks at Kyleigh. “We have an away game on Saturday. We’ll fly home that night, but we’ll be back late.”

Kyleigh nods.

“So, no?” I frown.

Kyleigh squeezes my shoulder. “No, not no. Let me figure this out, but we have to get your dad to agree to go. But he has to think he’s going for you, not to see Miss Jade.” I can tell she’s thinking really hard. “Did she say who she was going with?”

“Eloise?” I think that was her name. It’s kind of a weird name.

Kyleigh nods. “Okay, Bodhi, you have another job to do. You’re going to have to beg your dad to take you. But Rowan will encourage him to go.”

“I will?” Rowan looks surprised.

“Yep. Bodhi, you plant the seed tonight and mention it to your dad. Then Rowan will ask him tomorrow what he’s doing on Sunday, and the guys will handle the rest.”

I nod up and down a lot. “Okay.”

Rowan picks up his phone when it dings. “Showtime, buddy, that’s your dad saying you need to go back down for dinner.”

Kyleigh pats me on the back. “You got this. And if he says no, a little pouting isn’t a bad thing. This one time.” She makes this weird sort of face. “I’m earning such bad karma for our kids someday. I keep telling myself it’s for the greater good.”

I don’t know what that means, but Rowan laughs.

“Good luck, Bodhi,” Rowan says.

Kyleigh watches me walk down the stairs to our place.

When I walk in, my dad looks up from the plates of food. “Where’s the picture? I wanted to see it.”

“I drew it for Kyleigh.” I sit in my chair at the kitchen table. “Can we go to Navy Pier on Sunday?”

Daddy’s eyebrows rise. “Uh… let’s talk about it later.”

“Everyone at school has all these fun plans this weekend. I know you have a game tomorrow, so you’ll be tired, right?” I make a sad sort of face like Kyleigh said I should.

He sets his fork back down on the table and leans back into his chair. “I’m never too tired for you. Sure, but in the afternoon, so I can get some sleep in the morning, okay?”

“Okay.”

I try not to show how excited I am, but I did it! And I didn’t even need Rowan and the guys’ help. I did it all by myself.