At Aunt Amy's

Hazel's Mini Epilogue

 "Why is this necessary, again?" I told Avery as we stood at the edge of the school playground. It looked like a jungle, but I knew how to pose as a lion. If only my disguise wasn't taken away (proud of my metaphors? So am I).

"Mom and dad said to go make friends, and that's what you're going to do," Avery answered. "And real friends. Don't just give them Capri Suns."

"It's the only thing that works."

"Just go find another introverted fifth grader with way too many tricks up their sleeve."

"That's not that many-"

"Go!"

Groaning I, marched onto the playground, observing everyone around me. They all were idiots. Every single one I saw. All of them generic kids who will grow into generic teens and into generic adults for the rest of their lives. But hey, at least they looked happy. My eyes scanning the crowd, I fixed on a girl sitting on the empty bench with legs crossed, reading a book.

I sat next to her, and asked, "Are you sitting here so everyone thinks you're in trouble and no one bothers you?"

"Correct," the girl responded. I relaxed my shoulders.

"Interesting. I used to use that tactic until all the kids who thought I was cool would be striving to figure out why I was sitting on the bench."

"Good thing I'm practically invisible to these a-holes."

She held out her hand, "Jada, by the way."

I shook her hand. "Hazel."

"Oh, are that kid who threw that raging party? My sister would not stop puking the next morning."

"Afraid so. It's a little hobby of mine. Studying how kids interact with each other and exploiting it for my own use."

"Impressive. I've always found it interesting how children are so easily manipulated. Especially by one of their own."

"You'd be surprised how easy it is to manipulate adults."

After exchanging a chuckle, I asked Jada, "How about we try a hand at this thing, together. Any clue on how to hack a security system?"