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“I mean... I really want to get it done.”

“Hmm. Aren’t you tired?”

He shook his head.

“You certainly know how to stay focused; I’ll give you that.” She smirked faintly. “A few more minutes. But then we’re outta here. I’ve got an important home life, you know. My dogs need to be fed.”

“Yes, ma’am...”

He finished up the welding, screwed the jaw into place, stuffed the helm in his bag, and exited the building with Ms. Trent.

“You okay to get home?” she asked.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine.”

“You sure? We’re not supposed to give students rides, but I can’t just let you walk home in the dark.”

“No, really. I, uh... I mean, uh... my parents should be here soon.”

“Then you won’t mind if I wait with you.”

He grimaced. “Uh... th-that’s not necessary.”

“Oh, I insist,” she said.

He sighed.

“They’re not coming, are they?”

He had to think of something. Lying wasn’t working. He decided to try a version of the truth. “No, they’re not,” he said. “I’m not going home yet. I h-have somewhere else I want to go first.”

“Aha. Somewhere you’d rather not tell a teacher about, is that it?”

He nodded his head to the side a little. “Y-you could say that...”

“Alright,” she said. “It’s not my business. But stay out of trouble, Hector. You’re a good kid.”

He watched her go out into the parking lot and drive off in a white compact.

He pulled out the helm as he started walking and held it up to inspect. He hadn’t been able to look at the finished product very closely before leaving the workroom. He turned it over in his hands.

‘Wow, this looks like shit...’

Garovel laughed. ‘Are you done?’