He shrugged and leaned back in his chair. The shift in his expression happened so fast that if it hadn’t been for the way his eyes changed, like he didn’t make the baseball team or something but was trying to be chill about it, I would have thought I imagined it.
Trying not to let his disappointment become my own, I reassured myself that I’d find another way to enter the competition. This really was for the best. I turned my attention to my phone, just in time to see a text from my dad.
Dad:What do your grandma and a 90-degree angle have in common?
Ever since I’d gotten a phone, my dad had become the king of corny math jokes. I was pretty sure he had a book of them somewhere. Right as I started to text back an answer, his response popped up.
They are both always right. Ha!
I snorted at how bad that one was as another text rolled in, taking my smile with it.
Wanted to send a little math joke since your mom said you are working on your physics and SATs today.
Hope you are having fun with BamBam!
The corner of my brain that was desperate to get away from my parents’ all-consuming life plans began to scream that I had to find a way out, while the part of my mind that was logical seemed to disappear altogether. Ethan’s words echoed in my head.If you change your mind…
“Actually. Yes, let’s work together.” The words were out of my mouth so fast that I barely had time to process what I was thinking, let alone what I was saying. I watched as Ethan’s head jerked to face me.
“What?”
“I need a partner, and for whatever reason, you are willing to share prize money, so let’s work together,” I said, forcing mytone to sound matter-of-fact and not like the rush of panic I was feeling suggesting this.
“No, I mean, I heard you.” Ethan shook his head, his hair falling into his eyes. “It’s just…you literally said no thirty seconds ago. Are you joking?”
“Totally serious,” I said, surprised by the resoluteness in my voice. “I’ve had a chance to think about it, and us collaborating makes sense.”
“I don’t…”
“Do you want to work together or not?” I pulled up the camera feed to check it one more time before I started using my phone to film the panel, trying to sound like I wasn’t the one who had to get down off my high horse.
“Yes, I guess. I’m confused, though—”
“Are you going to the go-kart thing after this?” I whispered over the sound of Evelyn, the middle-aged moderator with a voice like a worn-out gym sock, who began asking the panelists to introduce themselves and share their journeys to influencing.
“Yes?” Ethan’s answer sounded like a question, as if he was trying to figure me out.
“Good. We’ll plan there. You should move now.” A small, bemused smile crossed Ethan’s face, as if all of this was a little funny to him. It was the kind of smile that felt like we had an inside joke, a secret, or some other special thing between us. I gave my head a shake and faced the front of the room, then held up my phone. I didn’t need to think about what that smile meant right now.
“You’ve got a good angle. My grandma will be jealous,” Ethanwhispered. I turned and found his face a few inches from mine as he leaned forward to see my screen.
“Why are you still here?” I whispered back, tilting my phone away from him.
“It’s too late to move now. They’ve already started.” Ethan grinned mischievously. He opened his mouth to say something right as Evelyn asked the second question.
“Now that we all know how you got into this business, I want to ask—new tech can feel daunting, not to mention all the jargon. How are you staying up-to-date with the changes?”
“Such a good question,” Gregory jumped in. Without thinking, Ethan and I looked at one another, his face echoing exactly what I was feeling. This was everyone’s favorite question to ask older people, like somehow the answer would be any different coming from younger people.
“You know, I often search for how-to videos. Or sometimes Iask a friend. If I’m still in the store where I bought my phone or computer, I’ll check and see if there is someone there who can show me the basics…” Gregory began rattling off all the ways literally anyone would learn how to use a new piece of technology. Clearly too nice for his own good. It must have been all those years of teaching.
I focused on filming the panel. The footage would be shaky since I didn’t have anything to stabilize the camera, but it would be good enough to use as B-roll to hide cuts later. I invaded Ethan’s space to get a better view, then realized that BamBam was speaking about me.
“…and, y’all, don’t be afraid to ask the young people in yourlife. I’m extremely blessed to have three wonderful grandbabies who help me out all the time. One of them is here now. Jamie, baby, where are you?” BamBam craned her neck as she began to scan the room. My nerves rattled. I could not stand up with Ethan next to me.
“I agree with Mini. I have a delightful grandson who is here as well,” Buzzy said, causing BamBam to throw her a sideways glance. I grimaced. BamBam had so little subtlety in her facial expression that it felt like the entire room could practically hear her yelling,Get your own ideas, without her having to say it.
“Y’all, I don’t want to spoil anything, but Jamie has some great video ideas, too.” BamBam plowed on, ignoring everything Buzzy said. “Jamie, why don’t you wave so the people can see you?”
