February 2013 - Fourth grade

Finn had been friends with Ava for about a year now. He thought she was an interesting person. She didn’t talk much, but when she was interested in the topic, she would ramble on for a while about it.

He thought it was strange at first. It was almost as if she was talking to herself. She wouldn’t make eye contact with him, and she almost never addressed him.

After a while, though, it became normal. He would quietly listen as she spoke about artists, or animals, or complained about school in her soft, monotone voice.

One day, he saw her drawing in her sketchbook. It was constellations of stars. He gave in to the urge to lean in to get a better look. She pulled away slightly.

“Uh, sorry. I just wanted to see it” he apologized, feeling his face get red in embarrassment.

Ava shook her head. “Not yet. It’s not finished” she said, holding the book closer to her chest. He nodded. “Show me when it’s done then,” he said.

Surely enough, a few days later, Ava gave him a page ripped neatly from the book. The background was a mix of blue, purple, and black crayons. The stars and constellations were put on top with a white pen.

The happiness he felt was similar to when his parents had bought him his telescope. Except it was better because it wasn’t a special occasion.

“Thanks so much. It’s nice” he said. The words were strange coming out of his mouth. He didn’t get things from people very often.

Ava smiled sheepishly. “No problem” she answered.

When he got home, Finn showed Jenna the drawing.

“That’s pretty. Did you make it?” she asked, unpacking the groceries.

Finn shook his head. “Ava did” he corrected, hanging the drawing in the fridge with a magnet.

Jenna cocked her head in confusion. Finn found this strange because he had mentioned Ava to her before. “Oh, yes. Your friend” she asked. Finn pouted slightly. He wished Jenna would pay better attention sometimes.

“Why don’t you invite her over?” Jenna suggested.

He was about to consider what she had said when someone came in.

“Invite who over?” his mother asked, taking off her coat as she walked into the room.

“My friend Ava” Finn answered. “Why are you home so early?”

“Things were going slowly, so I left early for the day” she explained.

He wasn’t sure why he had asked. He didn’t really care about the reason. “So can I?” he asked.

“I don’t see why not. Jenna, you can leave early for today” she added. Jenna nodded. She ruffled Finn’s hair before gathering her stuff.

“We’ll just have to ask her family. Ask Ava about it tomorrow” she said.

~~~

“Come over…?” Ava asked in surprise the next day. Finn nodded, sipping his apple juice. “Can you ask your mom about it?” he said.

She looked reluctant and somewhat nervous about it. “Don’t you wanna come over?” he asked. He hoped she was okay with it. He never had a friend over and the thought excited him a little. But he didn’t want to force her.

“N-no I do - it’s just, uh” she stuttered, then shook her head. “Nevermind, I’ll ask.”

He cocked his head in question, but she had already turned her head. Finn felt the urge to press on but ignored it. He knew that once Ava didn’t want to talk about something, it was nearly impossible to get her to spill. He didn’t waste his time asking what was wrong.

Sure enough, Ava did ask and plans were made for Jenna to pick up both of them after school on Friday. They got out of the car in front of the house. Ava stared at the house as she got out.

Finn suddenly felt hostile. He often forgets, but Ava was a rich kid, too. She doesn’t act like the rest of the kids at school, but he was sure she lived a similarly privileged life.

She didn’t say anything about the house as they walked in. She smiled, though, when she got inside.

“It’s so cozy” she sighed, removing her jacket and hanging it up.

“It’s smaller than what you’re used to isn’t it?” he said, bitterness in his voice.

Ava looked around. “Sure. But it’s not cozy there” she said. Finn fell silent. He felt bad for thinking she would judge his home. He couldn’t get his mouth to admit that, though.

Instead, he leads her to his room. He had his various science books that his dad had brought home for him stored neatly on his shelf. His bed was full of Pokemon and Legend of Zelda plushies, even a couple from My Little Pony. There were so many that you could hardly see the bedsheets.

Ava picked up a plush of Vulpix. “You really like plushies” she pointed out. She eyed the ponies. Finn’s face grew warm. He knows that collecting stuffed animals from video games and watching cartoons about pastel ponies wasn’t was most boys his age spent time doing. His cousins would poke fun at him for owning so many “dolls”, and they wouldn’t let him hear the end of it when they caught him watching My Little Pony.

“Mhm, y-yeah” he muttered. Looking at his feet.

“They’re cute,” she said simply. “Are you still playing uh…” she trailed off as she tried to remember the title.

“Twilight Princess. And no, I finished” he said, sitting down on the floor to rummage through a box he pulled out from under his bed. Ava knelt down beside him. “What are you looking for?” she asked.

“My extra controller” he responded. “Do you like Mario Kart?” He found the controller and handed it to her.

“Never played” she responded. Finn’s eyes lit up. He enthusiastically explained all the controls to her. They played for the next hour or two. Ava kept losing and would continue to demand another round until she had finally gotten a higher place than him. His mom eventually called the two of them down for dinner.

As they sat down at the table, he saw Ava eye the picture that he had hung on the fridge and smile.

Finn and his mother chatted throughout dinner, addressing some questions and comments towards Ava. She spoke but stayed silent otherwise. She quietly ate her pasta.

Eventually, Ava’s mother came to pick her up. “Reyna Lou, nice to finally meet you in person,” her mother said, shaking his mother’s hand.

Ava’s mother was fairly short, she hardly looked taller than five foot four. She had a sweet smile and a soothing voice.

But for some reason, Ava looked intimidated. She grew silent as she stood by her mom’s side, staring at her feet. He couldn't understand why.

He watched from the window as their car drove away. He wondered why she was so scared. Her mother looked like such a nice person.

“I don't get it…” he muttered to himself as he got up to get ready for bed.