Goodbye Stranger

Bridge and Sherm carry the boxes of rocks to school on the day of the Talentine show. Bridge says she asked Jamie the riddle about the two brothers, and he said the one question should be “What door would your brother say is the door to heaven?” (261), and no matter which brother you ask either will lie and you will know to choose the opposite. They see Patrick, and he takes Bridge’s box. He and Sherm carry the rocks backstage while Bridge looks for Tab. The entire school is decorated with the Apollo 11 theme, and someone has hung stars from the ceiling inscribed with the students’ definitions of love from the fall assignment. Bridge sees hers but keeps it a secret. Tab asks Bridge if they will send each other flowers on Valentine’s Day in high school. Bridge thought Tab hated the tradition, but Tab says she will send Bridge and Em three flowers each: “Because you’re my friend, and I like you, and I love you” (264). Bridge says with a smile that she will send Tab two of each flower.