Munch didn’t even need his alarm on Thursday morning. He was dressed and ready. Waking up early meant the numbers on his digital clock were flipping very slowly. In his full length mirror he studied his reflection. He was wearing a red Groucho Marx t-shirt with gray Levi’s and purple chucks. His hoodie was dark purple. Slowly he spun around. He nodded to himself and thought, yup, the right clothes can even make scrawny look good.

When he went into the kitchen, Mama was at the stove flipping pancakes. Tears were sliding down her cheeks. That man was leaving tonight, and as usual, she had started mourning, in the morning. Silly woman, she was going to have such a long day. At the table, that man was hidden behind his newspaper. Much couldn’t see his face but his knuckles were white where he held the paper.

Lolly came down stairs in her robe. She took one look at Mama and said, “I forgot something at the trailer, I will just eat there and get dressed.”

The newspaper came down. That man said, “Whoa, this is our last morning.”

Flatly Lolly said, “Yeah. There will be others.”

Wow. That man actually flinched when she said that. Munch’s eyes traveled from Lolly’s glare to his mother’s tears. Poor Trace Phelps. He was having a hell of a morning.

That man asked Lolly, “What did you forget?”

Now Lolly was not a good liar. She lacked motivation and skill. “Uhm, a book.”

“Which book?”

“Up a Road Slowly.”

Munch waited for that man’s response. He did not disappoint. “You finished that one during the holidays.”

The look in Lolly’s eyes veiled panic as she searched for a reply. “Uh, Lisa wants to borrow it.”

Something hard and angry came into that man’s eyes. He asked, “Really?”

Munch swung his head back to Lolly. It was like watching a ping pong match.

This time Lolly didn’t speak, she just nodded her head.

“Okay.” That man picked up the paper and disappeared behind it once more.

Mama started to say something, but one look from Lolly silenced her.

As Lolly opened the door, that man asked, “You taking your cat with you?”

“Uh, yeah I guess so.” Lolly glanced at Munch. She looked disappointed. Had she been gunning for a fight? It looked like it, but that man had not obliged.

Loudly she stomped up the stairs to retrieve Fluff and then stomped back down. Fluff was obviously pissed about being jerked out of his nice warm bed. Without so much as a look in her Pa’s direction, Lolly went out the back door.

Mama burst into tears. That man put his paper down. Oh great!

Munch said, “I’m gonna head on over to Grandma Toady’s too.”

This made Mama pause her crying. “Have you fixed your lunch?”

“I did that last night.” He had also packed his backpack and it was sitting by the back door. He opened the fridge, got out his lunch kit. Gave Mama a peck on the cheek and headed out the door.

Actually, he had no intention of going over to Grandma Toady’s. He wanted some time alone to think and day dream and plan. From his lunch kit, he grabbed his chocolate chip cookies. Breakfast! Too soon Lolly and Max joined him. Lolly looked glum, but Max was smiling. No telling what he was so happy about.

The bus came. Lolly remained completely silent. When Trevor got on the bus, she barely waved. Trevor’s eye brows shot up and he looked at Munch. Munch just shrugged. No one, not even Lolly was going to ruin this day for him.

*

The bus for the Museum of Fine Arts wouldn’t leave until 9:00 a.m. so Munch had to go to first period Algebra. Quack gave him a nod when he came into the room. He took his seat. Grace glided into the room. She was wearing jeans with a top that had turquoise butterfly sleeves. Damn, she looked good. She gave him a smile when she sat down behind him. Trevor came in and took his seat. He leaned turned and asked, “What the hell is wrong with Lolly?”

Munch rolled his eyes. “Her dad’s leaving today. They haven’t been getting along.”

Trevor just grunted. Whatever that meant. Munch had no desire to know anything.

All through class, Munch could barely focus. The hands of the wall clock were moving so damn slow. Finally the bell rang. He headed into the hall with Quack close behind him. He increased his speed. Quack called after him, “Dude, wait!”

Munch pretended not to hear. Down the hall he saw Thahn Ho. She was waiting for him. She wore a pink sweater with a pink ribbon in her sleek black hair. When she saw him she smiled. His heart did that thing in his chest. He spanned the distance between them.

Thahn Ho looked up at him and asked, “Are you ready?”

“Yup!” He was so ready.

Quack caught up with them. To Munch he said, “Damn, your little legs move fast.”

This was not a compliment, but Munch let it slide.

Inside the art room Mademoiselle Petite checked everyone in and then she had them open their lunch boxes, purses and backpacks to check for drugs, cigarettes and booze. Everyone was clean, at least that’s how it looked.

Outside the sky was overcast. The big yellow bus was waiting for them. On the sidewalk stood Mrs. Duong. What was she doing there? Munch glanced at Thahn Ho. Did she know about this?

Mrs. Petite walked up to Mrs. Duong and said, “Thanks so much for helping out at the last minute.”

Thanh Ho and Munch turned to each other. What! How had this happened?

Mademoiselle Petite turned to the students and said, “This is Mrs. Duong. She is our parent chaperone today.”

With a big smile on her face, Mrs. Duong bowed to the class. Automatically, everyone including Mademoiselle Petite bowed to her. She was wearing a bottle green suit with a butterfly scarf tied around her neck. Actually, she was quite a lovely woman, but Munch wished with all his heart she was being lovely somewhere else today.

They got onto the bus. Mrs. Anderson was their driver and their school chaperon. Munch gave her a nod as he passed her. He had planned to sit in the center of the bus and he kept to the plan. Thahn Ho entered the seat first so she could sit by the window. Munch sat down beside her. The bus roared to life. With a slight jerk it took off. Thahn Ho whispered, “I’m sorry Michael. My mom didn’t even mention it to me.”

He whispered back, “It’s okay.” It wasn’t but what else was he supposed to say. In his head he heard Grandma Toady say, “Make the best of every situation.” This was not what he wanted, but if he got all sulky and mad, he could ruin the day, not only for himself but for Thahn Ho. She had never been to an art museum before. Besides only a few inches lay between the two of them. He almost never got to be this close to her. For the next few hours, if he was lucky he could be just a few inches away from her.

The bus pulled out of he parking lot and headed for Highway 288. Up in front Mademoiselle Petite and Mrs. Duong were talking. In the big rear view mirror, Mrs. Anderson caught Munch’s eye and smiled. She was such a nice lady. Beside him, Thahn Ho said, “I wonder who the parent chaperone was supposed to be?”

Before Munch could say a word, Quack shoved his big old head over the back of their seat and said, “My dad was supposed to come, but the plant called and he had to go in for somebody.” Quack actually looked disappointed. He added, “This always happens.”

If Mama hadn’t had class she would have come on this field trip. Fortunately she had had class.

Quack told Thahn Ho, “Your mom is hot.”

Thahn Ho blushed and looked uncomfortable.

Good gravy! Did Quack actually say that? Munch took another look at Mrs. Duong. Was she hot? Not to him, no.

Quack grinned at Thahn Ho, and said, “Sorry, just stating the obvious. I can see you take after your mom.”

Thahn Ho squirmed in her seat and turned a deeper shade of red.

Stupid Quack turned back to Munch, leaned even further over the seat and said, “I need to talk to you.”

Irritated Munch asked, “About what?”

Quack ducked his head and quietly said, “Lisa. Do you think I have a chance? I mean her last boyfriend was a jock and smart. I’m just an art freak in special classes.”

Oh, God, as bad as Munch wanted to tell him to just shut the f— up, he couldn’t do it. Did Quack have a chance with Lisa? God only knew. He said, “You won’t know until you try.”

“That’s not what I asked. I need to know what you think.”

What did he think. He thought that Lisa was on the rebound. She liked the attention she got from Quack, but would she go out with him? He had no idea. Honestly he said, “I don’t know. You might have a chance.”

A cautious grin quirked at the corners of Quack’s lips. “Really you think so.”

Munch nodded.

Quack slapped him on the shoulder and said, “Thanks, Buddy.” He slid back in his seat.

Wow, he was now Quack’s buddy. Could life get any weirder? He looked at Thahn Ho. Her color had returned to normal. There was a glint in her eye. He and asked, “What?”

She shook her head. Chances were she knew Lisa’s thoughts concerning Quack.

Munch leaned a little closer to her and whispered, “Do you think he has a chance?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

She nodded.

Wow! Unbelievable.

In the distance the skyscrapers of Houston appeared. He said, “Look,” and pointed.

Thahn Ho looked. She pressed her hand against the window and bounced a little in her seat. She glanced back at him, her eyes were filled with light. In an awed voice she said, “It is so pretty.”

He had never thought of Houston as pretty, but in the morning light, it did look kind of magical. Maybe it was magical. Maybe it would grant a little of its Magic to him and Thahn Ho today.