Page 26 of Goode Tidings

"I want to," I say, giving him an encouraging smile and a playful nudge with my elbow. "I would definitely rather hang out with you than crochet." I wouldn't mind stretching my legs, too.

He opens his mouth and for a second I think he's going to push back, but then he says, "Yeah, ok. Let me go put some shoes on."

Oliver meets me out front a few minutes later. He's thrown on a hoodie, and it makes me wonder if I should do the same. I haven't yet grown accustomed to the way the day grows cooler as the shadows lengthen. I don't want to delay Oliver any longer, so I decide to let myself be chilly.

We start out to our left. The houses on Lake Circle have a lot of space between them, but that space is mostly taken up by trees. The sparkling lake peeks through the thin trunks of the pines, insisting she be appreciated. We've hardly made it past the first house when two boys step from a red painted front door.

"Hey," the taller one calls, hand raised. He looks older, closer to Oliver's age.

Oliver stops and waves. "Hey."

The boys walk closer, and now I see the shorter one is far younger, somewhere around eight.

"I'm Eugenio," the older boy says. He ruffles the younger kid's hair, who scowls and knocks the hand away. "This little nerd is Marco."

"I'm Oliver," Oliver says, offering his hand to shake.

Eugenio eyes it briefly, then shrugs and shakes Oliver's hand. "Formal." He nods. "I like it."

Oliver blushes to the tips of his ears.

Eugenio keeps going. "My dad's always on us about shaking somebody's hand when we meet them. Your dad must've told you the same thing."

Oliver says nothing, and it doesn't matter because Eugenio has moved on to something else. "I'm starting high school tomorrow. What about you?"

Oliver nods. "Yeah. Do you know who you have for homeroom?"

"Hell no," Eugenio says, his eyes cutting to me. "My apologies for using such language in front of a lady."

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Something tells me he gets a lot worse if his behavior is encouraged.

"I have Survivalists for an elective," Eugenio offers. "Sounds dope."

"Me too," Oliver says. He looks the way I feel. Relieved. At least there will be one friendly face for him to see tomorrow.

"Do you play XBOX?" Eugenio asks Oliver.

"Yeah," he answers, pointing to our cabin that's no longer visible. "Mine is still packed, though."

"You live next door?" Marco asks. His eyes are big, filled with childlike wonder. "But Sad Man Hermit lives there."

My hand shoots into the air like I'm in a classroom and asking a question of the teacher. "Does everyone call him that?"

Marco shrugs. "Pretty much."

"Why?"

Marco gives me a look that clearly says I can't believe I have to explain this to you. "Because he's sad, and he's a man, and he's⁠—"

"I get it," I interrupt.

"He's also rude," Marco continues. "I leave him notes, and he never responds."

"Not the notes again," Eugenio grumbles, gathering his little brother under his arm and rubbing his knuckles to his head. Marco punches Eugenio's middle, who does nothing but laugh. As Marco struggles to extract himself, Eugenio asks Oliver if he wants to come inside and play video games.

"Yeah," he answers, taking a step forward.

"Wait," I say, putting a hand on Oliver's arm. "Eugenio, are your parent's home?"