Page 86 of Possibly Texas

Jack nodded as he held his fist up in front of his chest facing me and rocked it back and forth.

Yes.

“I love breakfast for dinner,” I shrugged. “It’s probably my favorite thing.”

Jack held his right hand up and curled all of his fingers in, except he left his thumb pointing towards his chest and his pinky pointing towards me. Then he moved his hand back and forth between us, his pinky aimed at me and his thumb jabbed at him.

Me too.

Our progression from hardly interacting, to communicating with notes and cell phones, to actually using sign language made me want to grin so wide my face would split. Somehow, I knew that if I made a big deal about the sign language, it would set Jack and me back. He wanted to communicate with me in the way he knew how to best, but he didn’t want to make a production of it. I could respect that.

“So,” I asked, “like eggs and sausage? Maybe biscuits? Gravy if you’re a really awesome guy?”

Jack grinned and made the sign for “yes” again.

“I’m in,” I said. “Sounds good.”

He tapped his left wrist with his right index finger, then held his right hand up with the three middle fingers extended and his pinky and thumb touching.

“Six works for me,” I said. “That gives me time for a nap.”

Jack grinned and started to head towards the living room.

“Auggie and I did that thirteen trips around Possibly backwards thing,” I said as Jack sunk into the sofa. “You know about that?”

Jack rolled his eyes and nodded, obviously amused.

“We’re going to go to the graveyard at midnight,” I said. “To see the ghosts?”

He shook his head but he was grinning the whole time. He gave me the “ok” sign.

“Yeah. It’s kind of dumb I guess.”

Jack shrugged, then held his hand back and tipped it back and forth. I didn’t know the sign—or if it actually was sign language—but I got the gist. Jack thought it was dumb, but it was also harmless. Go have fun. What will it hurt?

I laughed and started to turn towards the stairs. Going upstairs, stripping down to my boxers and airing myself out while I napped was the plan. However, a thought entered my head, something I wanted to ask Jack. While he was in a good mood and we were getting along was the best time to do it. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity.

“Jack?” I asked.

He was flicking through channels on the T.V. but looked up at me.

“So,” I said, “the kids around here go to school at The Pueblo?”

Jack eyed me for a moment, emotionless, then he gave me a nod.

“Does Auggie go to The Pueblo?”

A slight grin teased the corner of Jack’s mouth. He nodded.

“Maybe,” I said carefully, “I can go there? If it’s cool that I…stick around that long. Ya’ know? If that’s a thing that happens. Just a thought. The Pueblo is kind of cool. Lilly is cool.”

For the longest of moments, Jack stared at me. I wasn’t certain if he wanted to tell me to get lost and not even think about sticking around that long, or if he was uncertain if I was serious.

Finally, he lifted his right index finger to his lips, then moved it forward quickly.

Sure.

“Cool,” I said, not wanting to make a big deal of anything again. “It’ll be cool to know one of my classmates, right?”