Zeno spins his newest invention. A tower of wobbly blocks topped with a wind-up butterfly.
The butterfly flaps its paper wings and zooms across the room. The teacher claps and smiles as it loops around the reading rug.
Zeno packs his blue backpack with his inventor tools. His shoulders drop when he sees the empty shelf.
The teacher calls him over and slips a friendship bracelet onto his wrist. "We'll stay in touch."
She hands him a folded card with her classroom phone number drawn on it.
Zeno walks to the door holding the card tight, then stops and turns back. He points at the bracelet on his wrist and then at the teacher.
The teacher gives him a thumbs-up, and Zeno's grin returns.
On the bus ride home, Zeno presses his forehead against the window and traces the star on his bracelet with one finger.
The bus bumps over a pothole and the star squishes flat for a second, then pops back up. Zeno giggles.
That night, Zeno sleeps with the bracelet wrapped around his wrist and the card tucked under his pillow.