After diving to retrieve his horned toad, he almost smacked right into the girl because she had the same idea. Wouldn't that have been a great way to start my year, taking out an older student? After checking, he assured her, "No, Thomas is fine, thanks. Just a little shaken up, I think." Oh, wait. "And I'm fine too!" he added, realizing that part was also slightly important. He had been a bit preoccupied wondering why she was bowing to him.

He noticed her glancing away. She's probably embarrassed to be seen with me, he realized. It couldn't possibly be cool for an older student-- a pretty student-- to be fraternizing with a clumsy little first year. Pao was so busy with his thoughts that he missed her next remark. But she must have verified or else she would just walk away thinking I'm a nutter, he reasoned. "You did?" The first year found that surprisingly comforting. Maybe he wasn't so dumb or uncool after all if she was willing to tell him that.

"Wow, you're really thoughtful! You must really like creatures if you're so concerned about them." So she was smart and loved animals. Yup, definitely a cool person. But, what was this talk of running straight at a brick wall? Rather than appear ignorant, he feigned knowledge. "I wish I had a cloth or something.. Maybe I'll drape my jacket over Thomas's cage when we go through so he's not frightened."

The Italian rummaged in his trunk until he found what he was looking for. "Okay Thomas, time for a little early nightfall," he said, draping his jacket over the cage. "Okay, he's probably set now. He's a pretty hearty little toad." Especially since the clock was moving ever closer to the 11:00 mark..