"What is this automotive thing? Did you send them my name? What's going on?" Josh had exploded into Parsons' classroom before homeroom. The letter was clenched in his right hand.

"Why, Josh. How nice to see you. What can I do for you?"

"What do you know about the Michigan School of Automotive Technology?"

"You're a good writer, Josh. You know that. And other people think so. Not just me."

"You're avoiding my question. Did you send in my name? Why did you send them my name?"

"Well, yes. I guess I did send your name to some school in Michigan. Did they write to you?"

"You know they wrote to me. They want me. Or almost. I'm a finalist. Is this some sort of scam? Who are these people?"

"Let me see the letter. Why don't you sit down. We're friends, remember? We don't loom large over our friends."

Josh settled into the first desk. But the anger and confusion still filled his face. Something didn't ring true with Parsons. She knew more than she was letting on.

"This is very impressive, Josh. They seem to want you very much. Just fill out these forms, get some other teachers to recommend you, and you're golden."

"Other teachers? Why not you?"

"They already have my recommendation. I sent it with one of your stories, a few weeks ago. I hope you don't mind." She smiled and pushed a wisp of hair out of her face.

"Story? What are you talking about? You sent them one of my stories, without asking me? Which story did you send? What right do you have?"

"Right? What right do I have? I'm your teacher. I'm supposed to help you, to lead you into the future. Of course I have the right. And what if I'd asked you? You would have said no. Think about it."

"Of course I would have said no. I don't want to go to Michigan for school. I don't need any more school. I'm going to get out of this place and work at the garage. Gus said he'd sell it to me in a few years. I don't need school for that. I don't need to go to Missouri, Michigan, wherever, for that. I'm all set. I don't need anything from you."

"It's not the need, Josh. Question not the need. It's what you can do. It's what's out there. There's more to the world than Exeter. Have you ever been to the Midwest?"

"No." Josh dropped his head and focused on a crumpled piece of paper on the floor.

"Josh. Have you ever been out of New England?" Josh kicked the paper and bounced it off the desk leg.

"You've never been out of New Hampshire, have you?"

"I've been to Amesbury. A couple of times. And what's the big deal? You said you've travelled extensively in Exeter. I thought that meant it was okay to stay at home."

"Thoreau said that. About Concord. I didn't know you were paying attention back then, when we covered that. He meant you can find the world nearby, sure, but he also travelled. He loved to meet new people and go new places. And he didn't have planes and cars, the way you do."

"I don't know. I think Exeter is just fine. Anyway, they probably don't want me."

"Will you do something for me? Nothing big. Not yet. Just something easy and little."

"Nothing you ask is ever easy and little."

"But have I ever asked you something that was too hard? Or something that didn't make some sense, eventually?"

"What? What do I have to do?"

"Not have to. But I'd like you to just do what they ask. Just fill out those applications and get a couple of recommendations. Here. Look. They don't even need to be teachers. Gus could fill one out. And maybe Mr. Latvis. He likes you, you know. He was impressed with all you did last fall, the way you turned us all around. Just print your name up here, put some stamps on these envelopes. Okay, I've got some stamps." Parsons pulled her purse out of the drawer and dug out two stamps. "They're not self-stick, so you're on your own here."

"I didn't say I'd do it. I didn't say nothin'."

"Anything. You didn't say anything. But I think. . . . No, I hope you'll do it. There will be lots of chances to say no, further on down the line. But there may not be many chances to say yes."

"You're impossible."

Next Chapter
Table of Contents
Buy the Novel