Tuesday morning when Munch got off the bus, he saw Thahn Ho waiting by the front doors. Lolly waved at her and started towards her. She didn’t even bother to wait for Trevor. Not sure what to do, Munch tagged along.

Relief filled Thahn Ho’s face when she saw Lolly. Lolly gave her a big hug. She told her, “Come on, you are going to sit with us this morning.”

While this was good, Munch was really hoping for another quiet morning with Thahn Ho in the library. The library...weird, he had never wanted to go the library on purpose before. Thahn Ho made him want to go where ever she was.He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her.

Trevor came up from behind and took Lolly’s hand in his. He asked, “Ready to go inside?”

Lolly said, “Yup.” They went into the building. In the cafeteria Lisa, and Jake were already at their usual table. Lisa stood up and gave Thahn Ho a hug. Desperately, Munch wished he could give Thahn Ho a hug, but that was not going to happen. A little voice in his head said, “Not yet.” Everyone sat down.

The morning conversation swirled around Munch. Trevor and Jake talked about track. The girls were looking at the fashion photos in Seventeen magazine. He was a bit torn. Usually all his attention would have been focused on the magazine, but he didn’t want to appear too girly in front of Thahn Ho. Honestly he was at a total loss. He felt fidgety and out of place. Normally when the guys talked about track he just buried himself in his sketchbook, but he didn’t feel right doing that this morning. He cast his gaze around the cafeteria. There were girls dressed in tight bell bottoms with skin tight shirts. Boys in slouchy jeans with football jerseys or t-shirts. No one, and he meant no one was dressed like he did. Normally it was a point of pride with him to be different, to be sharp, but this morning he felt like an alien who had just landed on a different planet and nobody spoke his language.

Lolly exclaimed, “Munch, look at this!” He turned to her and the magazine she was holding up. On it’s glossy page was a couple. The girl was wearing a filmy pink dress, but the guy was dressed in a dark purple suit with tails. She gushed, “Isn’t this suit gorgeous. You should make it.”

He was aware she was trying to include him in the conversation. “Uh, yeah. That would be cool.”

Thahn Ho said, “It would. Purple is my favorite color. You would look good.”

All sense of alien-ish thinking evaporated.”You think so?”

Shyly, Thahn Ho nodded.

That little nod was all he needed. His day had officially been made.

*

The bell rang. Munch fairly sprinted to his painting class. He had been waiting all day for this class. When he reached the room, he saw Thahn Ho talking to Mademoiselle Petite. They looked serious. Munch entered the room. Mademoiselle turned and smiled at him. To Thanh Ho, she said, “Take your seat. We will talk after school.”

Thanh Ho nodded and joined Munch at their table.

Munch asked, “Is everything okay?”

“I am going to talk to her about what happened yesterday.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

She looked at the table, studied her hands for a moment and then looked back up at him. “Could you come with me?”

This surprised Munch. “Uh, sure if you want me to.”

“I do. Will you miss your bus?”

Definitely but he didn’t say that. “I can get a ride.” With who? Somebody. Maybe Aunt Jessie or Grandma Toady would come get him. Regardless, she asked and he would be there.

They pulled out their paints and canvases. Munch went and got them each a jar of water. Mademoiselle Petite checked roll. Afterwards she went into a lecture about light and shadow. Munch heard not a word of what she said as he painted. All he knew was that right across from him was Thahn Ho.

When Mademoiselle Petite had completed her lecture, Thahn Ho leaned over and quietly asked, “Why do people call you Munch?”

“Oh, that. Uhm, when I was in kindergarten I had a friend who couldn’t say my name. Somehow he mashed Michael Dutchendorph into Munch and it just stuck with the kindergarten crew.”

She nodded and timidly asked, “Is it all right if I call you Michael? I think it is a beautiful name.”

OH MY GOD! No one had ever told him that. That goofy smile was fast making its way to his lips. “Uh sure. I-I would like that.”

“All right Michael. Did you know there is an angel named Michael?”

“Yes, my Mama named me after him.”

“She did. Your mama is so nice and so cute.”

If only she had said, you are so cute, the moment would have been perfect. Well, still having a beautiful name was something. It was definitely something.

*

Munch met Thahn Ho at her locker and they walked to the art room. Mademoiselle Petite was seated at her desk. She smiled at them when they walked in. “Have a seat. Tell me how I can help.”

Thahn Ho’s face flushed deep red. She looked at her hands which were folded in her lap. Just above a whisper she said, “I want to come in here before school to catch up on my still life but the boys have been bothering me. That boy Quack won’t leave me alone and his friend Sterling says rude things about me.”

Mademoiselle shook her head. “I am sorry to hear that. Sterling doesn’t even take art and he shouldn’t be in here in the morning. As for Quack, I will talk to him again. If that doesn’t work, I’m afraid he won’t be in art anymore.”

“Oh no,” protested Thahn Ha, “not that. He is very good. Something else please. If someone took my art away from me it would not make me be a better person.”

“You may have a point. I will think of something else. As for Sterling he is banned from the art room. In fact I think its time I only allow people who are actually working on their projects to be in here before school.”

This seemed pretty drastic to Munch, but necessary.

Thahn Ha said, “Thank you.”

“You are welcome. We will get this sorted out.” Mademoiselle glanced at her watch. “Have you two missed your buses?”

“My mother picks me up. I told her I needed to talk to you. She is waiting for me.”

“Okay. Good. What about you Michael?”

He hated to admit it. “Um, yes.”

Distressed, Thahn Ho said, “I am sorry. I did not think about your bus. My Me will take you home.”

OH WOW. “Okay, thanks, if its not out of the way.”

“Me won’t mind.”

Mademoiselle Petite stood and said, “I will see you both tomorrow.” She gave Thahn Ho a hug and Munch a smile.

They went out into the hall. The school was deserted. Only the janitors were out in the halls. Thahn Ho went to the side entrance that was by the theater. The air was nippy outside and Munch pulled his jacket a little closer around him. He saw the green Volvo waiting. Thanh Ho opened the front door and climbed inside. She said, “Me, Michael helped me talk with Mademoiselle Petite and he missed his bus. Could we take him home?”

“Of course. Get in young man.” Mrs. Duong’s speech was very precise.

Munch slid into the back seat with Thahn Ho’s little brother Le. He had a red Kool aide stain circling his mouth. He eyed Munch but didn’t say anything. On the white leather seat there was a big pink stain that looked like the result of a melted red crayon. He asked Munch, “Are you an artist too?”

“Yes.”

He giggled and said, “Me too!”

Was the kid referring to himself or his mother? Munch didn’t know and he was not about to ask.

He gave Mrs. Duong directions. As they neared the farm, Le wiggled out of his seatbelt and pressed his nose against the window. “You got any bucking broncos?”

“No, just chickens.”

He looked at Munch perplexed. “No bucking broncos?”

“Not a single one.”

“Well,” said Le, “that sucks!”

From the front seat Mrs. Duong said, “Le, you know I don’t like that word.”

Le sighed. “There’s so many words you don’t like Me, I can’t remember um all.”

The Volvo stopped in the drive. Munch got out and said, “Thank you Mrs. Duong.” He was very careful about his demeanor. To Thahn Ho, he said, “See you tomorrow.”

“Yes.” Her shy smile spread across her lips and lit her eyes with light. It took everything Munch had to back away from the car. He watched Mrs. Duong turn the car around and drive away. In the back window Le was waving good bye for all he was worth. Munch raised his hand and waved at the little boy.