Epilogue

Epilogue

Eight months later

Clara Pratt’s face appeared on the screen. She sat at a wooden table, a bright red wall full of family photos in the background behind her. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail which swung to one side as she cocked her head at the camera.

“Uh, I think I’m live? Yes? Maybe?” She turned, showing the camera the small tattoo of flying birds on her left shoulder. “Edan!”

The camera caught only Edan’s midsection as he walked into the room—his jeans and gray T-shirt.

“I’m live, right?” Clara asked.

Edan slid into the chair next to her. He cast an amused look at the screen. “Yes, you’re live. You’re still the worst at social media, you know that?”

“I’m getting better!”

“Yesterday your cousins told me you reminded them of their abuela.”

“I like to think they meant that as a compliment.” She pointed at the screen. “Everyone is sending laughing emojis now. I’m glad I amuse you guys.” She glanced at Edan. “Do I just start whenever?”

“Yes,” he said with a laugh.

Clara faced the screen again. “OK. Hi, guys! Thanks for coming or tuning in or whatever you call it. As you have probably seen here and on Edan’s Instagram, we are back in Guanajuato after spending the last month traveling around South America.”

A voice off camera murmured something in Spanish, mostly indistinguishable. Edan and Clara turned to look for the source of the voice.

“Hey!” Edan said with a grin. “I understand Spanish well enough to know you just said my Spanish is terrible.”

Laughter echoed from offscreen.

“He said that you just spent two weeks here, and then a month in other Spanish-speaking countries, and your Spanish is still terrible,” Clara translated.

“In my humble defense, we spent a week in Brazil, which is a Portuguese-speaking country,” Edan said.

“Anyway,” Clara said, casting an amused look in Edan’s direction. “Not the point. We are briefly back in Guanajuato and then on our way to the UK, as you guys heard in Maddie’s video announcement yesterday. Edan and I are heading up the new rebuilding teams, which are the new teams focused on rebuilding communities destroyed by scrabs. I’m sure you all remember our old team seven teammates Priya and Patrick, who will also be joining us on the rebuilding teams. Sadly, Laila is off to a fancy art school this fall, so she will not be there, but she did design all of the merchandise you can find for sale on our website. Also . . .” Clara leaned back, looking for something. “Where is he?”

“Hold on,” Edan said, jumping up and running offscreen. He appeared a moment later, pushing someone into the chair beside Clara. Laurence looked at the camera and then at his sister.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re live. Say hi to the internet.” Clara waved.

Laurence grimaced at the camera and then halfheartedly waved.

“Your poor social media skills are genetic,” Edan said from behind them.

Clara put a hand on Laurence’s arm. “My brother, Laurence, will also be joining us in the UK. Don’t let this face he’s making fool you, he’s actually very excited.”

“This is actually my excited face,” Laurence said, with a half smile.

“I know,” she said, patting his shoulder. She pointed at the screen. “People are sending heart emojis. I think that means they like you.”

Laurence turned red and bolted from the chair.

“We scared off Laurence,” Clara said to the camera with a laugh. Edan walked out of frame. “And Edan, apparently. That’s fine! I’ll just finish this video myself!”

She turned back to the camera as Edan’s laugh faded in the background.

“Anyway, we will all be part of the rebuilding teams,” Clara said. “Maddie and Dorsey will be in Germany for at least the next few weeks, heading up the new combat teams, so if you’re joining those, you will see them soon.”

She leaned closer to the camera. “There’s lots of info on the website, and you can chat with one of our people in New York if you have questions. I know that some of you out there may be wavering about doing this, so if you’re looking for a push, I’m here to give you one. Join us. Even if it’s scary, even if you don’t think you have what it takes. Whether you’re super eager to help or you just want to make a change in your life, we would love to have you.”

Her fingers appeared close to the screen. “I’m going to have to figure out how to end this live video now. Oh wait, I see how to do it.” She smiled. “OK, friends. I’m signing off. Think about what I said. I hope you’ll join us. It might be the best decision you’ll ever make.”

Edan bounded into the frame behind Clara suddenly, leaning his chin on her shoulder. “I came because I was worried you didn’t know how to end a live video and were just going to keep it going forever.”

“I figured it out!” She pointed at the screen. “Right? I just press that.”

“Yes. I never should have underestimated you.”

She smiled at him, and then the camera. “No, you shouldn’t have.”