*Chapter 168

For two days after the assembly, Alex lived like a minor celebrity.

Not the loud, chaotic kind.

The quiet, surprising kind.

Kids who had never spoken to them before suddenly did.

“Your dinosaur was funny.”

“I liked the roar.”

“You said rhythm weird.”

That last one wasn’t said meanly.

Just… observed.

Alex didn’t seem to mind.

At dinner on Wednesday, they explained everything with dramatic enthusiasm.

“And then everybody clap. Even big kids!”

Daniel ...