Page 15 of Places We've Never Been

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“It means,” she said, “I have to record the flora and fauna of each place we stop.”

“Ouch,” I said.

“Yeah,” she returned. “My kind of vacation.”

“The Failed Class vacation,” Skyler said.

She pointed her finger at him. “You better stop or I’m going to make you help me.”

“He candrawthe flora or the fauna,” I said.

Her eyes lit up. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea.”

“Or, you could, I don’t know, take pictures of them,” Skylersaid.

“Where’s the fun in that?” she huffed. “MaybeIcan draw them. Or at least some of them. Maybe drawing runs in the family.” She looked at the sketch pad in my hands. “Will you teach me?”

“Yes! I’ll give you some tips. Here, I brought a few blank pads. You can have one.” I passed her one from my bag and she took it reverently.

“Maybe I’ll be the next Picasso,” she said.

“Well, he was a painter, but yes.”

“Oh, right. What do you call someone who draws? A drawer?” She laughed.

“An artist,” Skyler said.

“Oh, now he’s defending the artists of the world?” Paisley said with an eye-roll. “Mr.Just Take Pictures.Mr.I Grew Out ofIt.”

This time, even though I sucked in my lips, I couldn’t hold back the laugh.

“You two are gonna get along great, aren’t you?” Skyler said.

“I think we are,” I said.

“Can we use the bathroom in here while we’re driving or do we have to wait until we stop?” Paisley asked.

“You can use it.”

“Don’t crash while I use the bathroom!” Paisley yelled toward the front.

“Crash while you use the bathroom?” Ezra called back. “I mean, okay, if you insist.”

“How old are you?” Paisley asked.

“Nineteen,” Ezra said.

“And you already tell old man jokes?” she said, then shut herself in the bathroom.

“Wow, harsh critic,” Ezra said.

Hello? You’re taking way too long to answer the question,Willow texted.Your interviewer is not going to give you this much time.

Grown-up Link or Young Link?

Either.