16. What’s Pie Got to Do with This?
Ben
I yawned as I walked downstairs the next morning. It had been a late night, later than I was used to, but a lot of fun. I wasn’t entirely sure yet whether or not Mina and I could be called friends, but now I had evidence of why I liked her as a person, rather than just vague suspicions. There were moments when you could get her to let her guard down, maybe even trust you, that she seemed almost normal. She would smile. Get close to laughing even.
The rich smell of a fresh pot of coffee filled the kitchen. It wasn’t one of my favorites, but when you needed to open your eyes in the morning, there was nothing better.
My mom sat at the kitchen table, sipping a cup and reading the local paper.
“Good morning, Ben,” she said with a smile.
“Morning. Wh
