Chapter 11

I waited, hoping for more, like maybe a me, too, but a text shook my phone, which set Blitzen to squirming, as if he’d been dying for word from Landon.

“What’s it say?”

I read from my screen:

“I practically grew up in the North Pole—

I come from Minnesota.

Santa and his elf are at the mall,

Say cheese! and bring back a phota.”

“A phota? That sounds like something out of a chemistry classroom.”

“Or a Vietnamese restaurant. But then he put a little camera emoji.”

“Rhymes are hard.”

I laughed. “I dunno, I think it’s kinda clever.”

“And by ‘clever’ I take it you mean ‘nice ass.’”

“Don’t think you know me just because I slipped and told you about Dr. Sabroso,” I teased him. “And also: did you see that Landon’s kid’s ass?”

Now Jarek laughed along. “Yes, I have eyes. With an ass like that he can rhyme ‘Minnesota’ with ‘dentist’s chair’ if he wants to. Let’s call it free verse and get in line.”