Free Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti Page B

teacher who enjoys assigning insane amounts of work. “I thought it was due last week.”
    “No, I have two more days.”
    “How far are you?”
    “Not far enough. And I won’t have that much time to work on it later because I have mentoring.”
    “I wish I could help you.”
    “What are you doing after school?”
    “No, I mean, I wish I could help, but—”
    “Dude, I’m talking about mentoring. Want to come with us?”
    Jason talks about the kids he mentors sometimes. You can tell that he loves hanging out with those kids just as much as Erin does, trying to help them learn and maybe even make their lives better. It sounds like the kids really like him, too.
    My head’s all foggy. “Is it Tuesday?” I go.
    “Yeah.”
    “Sweet, I don’t have swimming. And One World’s not until Thursday.”
    “You’re on the swim team?”
    “No, more like . . . I take a class. At the rec center.”
    “You take swimming classes?”
    “I know, I’m like six years old.”
    “I could teach you.”
    “Really?”
    “Totally. I lifeguard in the summer.”
    “I didn’t know that.”
    We eat cake.
    Jason goes, “So, you don’t have swimming because it’s Tuesday—”
    “Oh, sorry, um . . . I’m not doing anything.”
    “Cool, you can come to mentoring.”
    The middle school is a five-minute walk from here. There’s no excuse to not go. Except I don’t want Erin to feel like I’m intruding. Mentoring is their thing.
    “Wouldn’t I be a third wheel?” I ask.
    “Impossible.”
    “Are you allowed to bring someone?”
    “I don’t see why not.”
    “Maybe we should ask Erin. Just to make sure it’s okay.”
    “I’m all over it.”
    Erin was totally cool with me going. So we all walked over after school. The middle school has a huge classroom they use for after-school activities. Desks were set up in pairs and small groups. Erin introduced me to some of the kids she’s been working with. They all crowded around her adoringly, yammering about five different things at once.
    Jason went to help a group with their science homework, and Erin was talking with a student by the bookshelves. I read Harriet the Spy with a sixth grader.
    After, Erin decided that we should make certificates for the kids in mentoring who’ve improved the most. We have an awards ceremony at the end of every year, but the middle school doesn’t. So Jason said we could come over to his house to work on some certificates.
    Driving over to Jason’s, Erin goes, “Did you have fun?”
    “Tons. It’s so cool that you guys mentor.”
    “Kids are the future,” Erin says. “I have to help make sure it doesn’t suck.” It’s so Erin to want to be a part of everything.
    We get to Jason’s house right as he’s getting out of his Jeep. A cute dog is waiting right inside the doorway. He’s small and stocky with short black fur.
    He snorts loudly when he sees Jason.
    “Hey, Phil,” Jason goes. “Wanna meet a new friend?”
    Erin has obviously already met Phil. She pets him and makes you’re-such-a-cute-dog noises.
    “What kind of dog is he?” I ask.
    “He’s a French bulldog. Very dignified.”
    Phil has big, wet eyes. He stares at me.
    Jason’s like, “You can pet him.”
    I put my hand out for Phil to sniff. He snuffles against my fingers.
    “I have construction paper in my room,” Jason says. “Come on up.” He takes the stairs two at a time, ahead of us. We follow with Phil running up the stairs between us, his short legs working away.
    The poster is the first thing I see. It’s a special-edition poster of The Little Prince . I collect all things Little Prince . The fox is my favorite character.
    I have that same exact poster in my room. I’ve had it since I was four.
    “I have that same poster,” I say.
    “No way,” Jason says. He’s digging through a pile of stuff on his desk.
    “I collect Little Prince things. I’ve had it forever.”
    “I bet I’ve had mine longer.”
    “Your poster is the same one?”