Chapter 31

“Oh, I understand. Your parents are divorced?”

“No.”

His eyes widened. “Your mom’s dead? Geez, David, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s all right.” This made for an easy explanation. “And call me Da’. Everyone at home does.”

“Okay. Day. That’s an odd nickname. But it’s nice,” he hurried to assure me.

“Thanks.” I didn’t laugh at him; he was being kind. “So, would you like to try my lunch?”

“Do you use chopsticks?”

“Yes.” Pop had taught me how, and I had a pair at Uncle Lyn’s, but back home I ate it with my fingers. “I don’t bring them with me, though.”

He looked around and spotted the boys from Geometry, who were sniggering at us “I can understand that. I’ll get us forks and knives.”

I kept an eye on him, in case those bullies decided it would be fun to pick on the shorter boy, but when they saw me watching them, they decided they had better things to do.