"Yeah."

She smiles and seems a lot more confident here than in the art class or in the halls of Harrington High.

I smell something like real home cooking.

You're dreaming this it's another dream come on not fair.

I actually feel nervous here.

Meeting the parents over a Sunday meal. What are you thinking, Chris?

I'm led into the kitchen and see Kelsey's pretty mother doing something at the sink. She smiles and then comes over and gives me a hug.

Do they know something I don't?

"Oh, you're such a cutie," she says. "I'm Ruth. It's very nice to finally meet you."

Kelsey's mother is an older snapshot of her, blond and tall and smiling. We stand around the kitchen talking about stuff like school and where I'm from and all that.

Normal stuff.

It's nice and refreshing and I realize that they're not going to kidnap or molest me.

At least not before lunch.

"We're having a pot roast," Ruth says. "Do you like pot roast?"

I used to when I had someone who actually remembered how to make it.

"Yeah, that's great. Thanks."

"We're just so glad you came over. Maybe next time you can bring your mother."

"Lay off, Mom," Keith says in a natural and fun way. "Don't pressure the kid."

"It's not pressure. It's just nice meeting new folks."

I glance over at Kelsey, who is still quiet despite the air of security she has about her. When I see her looking my way, I feel something that is pretty much all wonderful.

It's like ...

A breath of fresh air.

I suddenly know what that expression means.

It's the cute blond in the blue dress, smiling at me as if I've made her day.

I haven't made anybody's day in a very long time.

"So you haven't seen your uncle since you arrived?"

Ruth's question is innocent and natural, but it still seems a bit too much. I take a while to figure out an answer.

"I don't mean to pry," she adds.

"No, it's fine. It's just-we haven't-we don't know where he is."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Yeah. I guess-I think Mom thought that he would be around or come home eventually. But I don't know. She didn't really share what she thought about coming here except that she grew up in Solitary. And that she wanted to get away from my dad."

Kelsey obviously had told them about my parents because nobody brought up the parents discussion or even the word.

"I have a feeling that he's long gone," I add.

"And what about your father?"

"Ruth."

"I'm just asking."

"It's okay," I say, looking first at Kelsey, who's sitting next to me. "We don't hear anything from him. I doubt we will."

"Sorry to hear that."

I nod.

"Too heavy," Keith says. "Sorry, Chris. I told them to go light, but Mom can't help herself."

"That wasn't being too anything," Ruth says.

"We were talking about college football, and it goes to this. Give the kid a break. I mean, he lives in that creepy town. He's got enough to deal with."

That's the funny thing about people who live outside of Solitary, even if it's just right outside. It's like the dome of gloom hasn't completely penetrated them yet.

Poe and Rachel talked like this.

Now Kelsey's family.

"I hear you're pretty good at track," Keith says.

"I'm decent."

"They need as many decent guys as possible."

We talk about sports and other random things in a very fun, natural, normal way.

Every few moments, I look at Kelsey.

Every few moments, I realize just how much this family already knows me.

How much Kelsey's told them about me.

And I gotta admit, I really like it.

We're walking down the dirt road that leads to Kelsey's house.

To think that a year ago, I never really walked around neighborhoods. I mean, I rode my bike and I'd walk to kids' houses, but I never really just strolled around. Back home it's tiny little plots of land. Your fence and my grass and his backyard and her tree.

Here, it's just all open and free.

At least in places that haven't been spoiled by Solitary.

"You have a nice family," I tell her after we've been walking for a while, talking about art class and school.

"Thanks."

"Your brother's pretty cool."

"Yeah, I think so."

I'm ready to keep talking about him, but Kelsey changes the subject.

"Do you like Poe?"

"Poe?"

"You're around her a lot."

"I am?"

"I've seen you two together."

I wonder if she's referring to in school or out.

Please don't bring up real life. I was having such fun ignoring it.

"It's okay, you know."

"No, I just ..." I laugh for a moment. "I'm not sure what to say because I'm trying to figure out how you might think that. I mean-I'm not sure if Poe and I are really even friends."

"But do you like her?"

"No," I say right away. "She's a friend. But it goes back ..." Don't bring her up, not here not now. "It's just, I've gotten to know her."

I can see Kelsey looking at me from just a few feet away, walking next to me. She's waiting and wondering. Waiting. And wondering.

"We're just friends," I say. "That's all."

And that's all I'm going to say.

"Thanks for coming today," Kelsey says.

She says it in a way that sounds like I'm doing her some big favor.

"Thanks for asking. But you probably just do that with all the new guys, huh?"

Her slight laugh says otherwise.

"Do you think your mother would ever want to come over?"

I glance at her, and my look must say it all.

"Not for-it's just, my parents really believe in being hospitable."

"Ah, I get it," I say, my smile probably filling half my face. "So this is just hospitality. Or charity. Is that it?"

"What?"

"Your inviting me over for lunch."

"No, I told you-my parents asked."

"Yes. The decent thing to do."

"No."

"Oh, wait, there's another reason?"

I glance over and see her blushing. Suddenly I feel very mean and very stupid. "I'm just kidding."

She shakes her head in a way that doesn't really mean anything. Yes or no? Sideways? Then I see her look to the ground. I can see a faint trace of a tear.

"Hey, whoa-what? What'd I say?" I stop her before she can walk any further.

"Nothing."

"I was just kidding."

"It's fine, it's nothing. Really."

"Kelsey, look-I was seriously just kidding."

"I know. It's not that. It's nothing."

I swallow. I'm wondering what I did this time. "Look-this is-this was great. Thanks. I really-I didn't mean-"

"It's fine. It's nothing. Okay?"