Page 52 of When We Were Young

“Hi. I’m Layla.”

She holds out her hand. He stares at it.

“You’re supposed to shake it,” she says matter-of-factly. “That’s what grown-ups do. Here.”

She grabs his hand and demonstrates.

“I’ve seen that before,” he says. “I’m Simon.”

Layla repositions herself so she’s cross-legged.

“What is that?”

“It’s a bug, but I don’t know the name yet. I’m gonna take a picture so I can look it up later.”

I blink. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him talk this much to someone new. And certainly not since we moved here.

“Cool! Can I help?” Layla asks.

Simon hesitates. “But you’re a girl.”

Layla crosses her arms, and I can tell by her face that she’s irked by the statement.

“Yes. I am. And girls can like bugs.”

Simon frowns. “The girls at my old school didn’t. They stepped on ants on the playground to be mean. I didn’t like that.”

“Yeah, that’s not nice,” Layla says. “I like bugs. I like almost everything. Except Brussels sprouts.”

“Same,” Simon says seriously. “I threw up once after them, so now I don’t have to eat them.”

We sit there watching them like it’s a movie. They’re close enough that we can hear them, but far enough away that they don’t realize it.

After a few minutes, Layla pops up.

“Uncle Harry! Can I use your phone?”

“Careful,” he says, handing it over.

“I know. I’m not a baby.”

She runs back, and she and Simon immediately get to work, taking picture after picture.

“So, I’d say they’re hitting it off,” Harrison says.

“Yeah,” I murmur. “This is... new for him.”

“Do you all want to join us for ice cream? Or Simon could come with us.”

Georgie glances at me, then smiles. “Actually, if you don’t mind, Lizzie and I could skip ice cream and pop over to the bookstore while Simon is with you.”

“Sure,” Harrison replies.

I hesitate, biting my lip. “It’s not too much trouble? I can give you some money⁠—”

“Okay,” he cuts in gently. “First, no. I’m not taking your money. Second, it might actually help me if Simon’s there. I love Layla, but she talks nonstop.”

We all laugh. I’ve only known Layla for a short time, but it’s clear she knows how to command an audience.