1 For the two weeks after Halloween, we snuck our candy into the ARTT room, trading and sharing it until our stomachs twisted up from too much chocolate and our tongues burned from Sour Patch Kids and Jolly Ranchers.
2 The half-moons beneath Esteban's eyes grew darker, and some days his uniform looked like he'd slept in it. He had left the circle completely, sitting on the windowsill and staring out into the school yard.
3 One Friday, just as we entered the ARTT room, without saying a word, Ashton and Amari started moving our desks. They arranged them around Esteban at the window. None of us said anything, but Esteban looked up. Then he smiled.
4 We took our seats in the new circle like it was just a regular
Friday. But the circle was a little smaller now, our chairs closer together. We were closer together.
5 Amari pulled out his sketchbook and started drawing. Then, just as quickly, he snapped it shut.
6 Hey, Red. Can I talk into your recorder? I got something I want to say.
7 Sure.
s I nearly spilled out my whole knapsack rushing to get the recorder for Amari. When I handed it to him, he turned it around and around in his hand. It's the button on top that starts recording me, right?
• I nodded.
10 My name's Amari, he rapped. Rhymes with Atari. I'm old-school like that. I'm so smooth like that.
" Oh man, Holly said. You are not going to spit weak raps into
history, are you?
12 Amari looked like he was ready to say something back to her, then he sat up, his lips pressing together.
13 Wait a minute, he said slowly. Twenty years, we all meet back in this room and you can play this for us. My voice is already changing, so let me catch it like it is He smiled.
14. Your voice is SO not changing, Holly said. Keep dreaming.
15 Amari rolled his eyes at her. Jealous. That's all you are.
16 Nope. Believe it or not, I don't want my voice to change. Sweet and fine the way it is.
17 The other guys smiled, but Amari just looked at Holly. She stared right back.
18 Why don't you two get married and get it over with, Ashton said.
19 Both Amari and Holly made gagging sounds, but my stomach double-flipped and landed. Hard. No. They hated each other. No, Ashton was wrong. But then I saw the edges of Holly's lips turn up.
20 Whatever, Amari said, turning back to me. If it was cool with Esteban, I'm good. Just don't play it for nobody but us. Twenty years from now, we all meet right back here in this room The six of us.
21 That would be cool, Tiago said.
22 Yeah, Esteban agreed. That would be nice. We'd be old, though.
23 Red's gonna be the first one I recognize, Amari said.
24 I smiled. Twenty years seemed like a hundred years. I couldn't even imagine a room without the six of us in it. One day, we wouldn't be in Ms. Laverne's class. But Amari would recognize
me.
25 Esteban had stopped smiling. So had the others
26 It's strange to imagine us not together anymore, Ashton said. I know it hasn't been that long, but.
27 Yeah, but still, Amari said.
28 So let's make it a promise! Holly slapped both hands down on the arm of the desk. Twenty years from now, no matter where we're living, no matter what. Well meet back here in the ARTT room
29 Kick any little kids in here out, Ashton said. Because we were here first!
30 Amari held up the recorder. And Red will bring this and well all listen to ourselves.
31 I nodded.
32 The green light on the recorder was still on. It's recording us, I said.
33 That's cool, Amari said. You think you can hold on to this thing for twenty years?
34 Yeah, I said.
35 It sounds corny, Ashton said. But it sounds really cool too, because mostly, when you move away from someplace, you don't see the people again and you don't even remember what they sound like.
36 He got quiet, looked down into his lap and sighed. It was such a deep and heartbreaking sound. A sound I knew wouldn't sound any less sad over the years. A sound I'd hear again and again and remember Ashton, his head down, his hair falling over his forehead, his cheeks puffing out, his lips parting to exhale air.
Identify one quote/longer passage from this chapter that depicts the group getting closer together as a small community of young people. Cite it and explain its significance.
One quote from the chapter that depicts the group getting closer together as a small community of young people is, "One Friday, just as we entered the ARTT room, without saying a word, Ashton and Amari started moving our desks. They arranged them around Esteban at the window. None of us said anything, but Esteban looked up. Then he smiled" (paragraph 3).
This passage is significant because it shows the unity and support within the group. Ashton and Amari take the initiative to rearrange the desks without any explanation, indicating their intention to bring everyone closer together. This act of physical closeness symbolizes the emotional closeness they are developing as a community. Esteban's smile in response further emphasizes the positive impact of this gesture. This passage highlights the power of small acts of kindness and the growing sense of togetherness among the friends.