Andres hunches over the glowing keyboard. His fingers fly across the keys to finalize the pixelated dragon. The screen flickers with neon green sparks that smell faintly of burnt toast. He holds his breath, waiting for the final render to complete.
He drags the heavy tower box toward the classroom door. The wheels catch on a loose rug thread. Andres pulls harder, his knuckles turning white against the cold plastic handle. The box lurches forward with a jarring thud.
At the fair, the display table is empty except for a tangled mess of wires snaking out from under his shirt pocket. Andres untangles them one by one. His tongue pokes out in concentration as the lights begin to blink rhythmically.
The projector beam hits the wall, and the pixelated dragon roars. It leaps off the screen to bat at a dangling paper star decoration. Andres jumps back, eyes wide, as the digital creature chases its own tail around the room.
His parents stand frozen in the doorway, mouths agape, before bursting into applause that shakes the dust motes in the air. Andres straightens his spine, chest puffing out like a proud peacock as he bows to the cheering crowd.
The applause continues, echoing off the high ceilings. Andres looks up from his bow, catching the eye of his teacher. She nods slowly, a small smile playing on her lips. He feels a surge of pride that has nothing to do with the code.
Later, the gym empties out. The projector sits dark and silent on its tripod. Andres walks alone down the hallway, the tower box rolling quietly behind him. The hum of the city outside replaces the roar of the dragon.
Back home, Andres plugs the tower into the wall socket. The familiar click of the power button echoes in the quiet room. He opens the lid, ready to start again. The dragon waits patiently inside the machine.