Page 47 of Hand Picked
Me:Principal Oliver is making me fill out permission slips to have kids participate in Pick-a-Book.
Me:A permission slip… to have a free book sent home with them!!! And these are not controversial books. We’re talking… The Boy Who Loved Words.
Me:Sorry. I don’t mean to be a downer.
Webb:Missed your texts because my kid was just reading out loud to me.
Webb:How does it feel to teach kids maybe the most important thing they’ll ever learn how to do?
Webb:Don’t let the bastards get you down.
Webb:And you couldn’t be a downer if you tried. (I dare you. Try.)
Me: *cry emoji*Thanks, Webb.
Webb:Aiden’s mom is picking him up for hockey practice in ten minutes.
Webb:Scale of 1-10, how bad is it that I want to follow them to the rink?
Me:Wanting to do it? 1
Me:Doing it? 7.5
Me:But I’m at Peebles’ and if I happen to drive past the rink on my way home, I think that’s a 4, tops.
I wasn’t sure if this was what Webb Sunday was like with all his friends, but it was working for me in the best, worst way.
As in, every time my phone dinged and I saw his name, I got a thrill in my stomach, like I was back in middle school having my first crush on a boy. It felt lighthearted and fun and… well, I was really trying to focus on the good, but I couldn’t deny that it felt precarious.
My attraction was now a full-blown crush.
“Mr. Williams, who’s the best superhero?”
“Huh?” I blinked and found that I’d been staring at a blank page for a long moment. “Oh. Is this for your journal entry?”
“Yeah. You said to write four or five sentences about our favorite hero. So I’m trying to figure out who’s most powerful. Like, Thor has a hammer. But also, Superman doesn’t need a hammer because he’s strong. And then there’s Green Lantern—”
“Or there are real-life heroes,” I pointed out. “Firefighters, nurses, lifeguards. You could write about those.”
He wrinkled his nose. “I mean, yeah. But… that’s kinda boring.”
I pushed my lips together and tried, like I did a million times a day, not to laugh at the unfiltered stuff that came out of my students’ mouths. “Hmm. Well, if you’re askingmyfavorite superhero, it’s Spider-Man.”
Aiden cocked his head to one side. “That’s… nice,” he said dubiously.
I bit my lip. “He might not have the strongest powers, but he uses them wisely. He cares about people and looks out for them. People can rely on him. That’s why he’s my favorite.” I paused. “And the webs. I love the webs.”
Aiden grinned. “Yeah, okay. I mean, still not as good as Thor, though.”
I grinned back. “Well—”
“Sorry, boys!” Drew Sunday hurried into the cafetorium wearing tie-dye leggings, a hoodie, and Crocs, though it couldn’t have been more than fifteen degrees outside. His blood had to be as thick as cement. “I was working in the sugar house and lost all track of time. The sap is really running this week. Nice warm days and cool nights, you know?”
I shook my head. I had no clue. “I understand only the basics of syrup making, I’m afraid. One day, I’ll learn.”
“Come out to the orchard this weekend,” Drew offered. “Webb and I are hosting Aiden’s Nature Scout troop on Saturday for maple sugaring in the morning and skating in the afternoon. You’re more than welcome.”
“Oh, that’s nice of you, but—”
