Unable to speak, autistic Claire fears she will never be hired. Then an autism organization offers her a chance to realize her dream: to publish her writing and share her voice with the world.
It's a dream come true, right? But Claire's father can'...
Ava's hair tie is keeping Claire's hair secure as the breeze comes in, cool and clear, over the bay.
Claire likes coming up with questions. After some thought, she says "Imagine you were given an enormous sum of money. How would you live your life?"
Her two new friends consider this. Ahmed is the first to speak. "Honestly? Probably not much differently than I would otherwise. I'd still go into teaching, and do that all my life. I guess I could sponsor a lot of scholarships or something with all the money!"
"You'd have to talk to me about it," Ava says. "I could teach you to use it right. So you could send TONS of kids to school."
Ahmed laughs. "I'll keep that in mind! What about you, genius? What would you do?"
Ava thinks. "How much money?"
Claire hadn't thought about that, so she makes something up. "Say... 1 billion dollars."
"That's easy," Ava says. "I'd watch the economy, and wait for it to go downwards. When the economy tanks, it's like the stocks are on sale. I'd go in and buy a ton of index funds. Maybe sponsor a few businesses I really like too."
Ava's eyes sparkle as the gears churn in her head. "The bulk of the money would go to STEM research and feminist causes. It could improve health care, standards of living, social justice... I'd pay a top lawyer to write a watertight will leaving the money to charity."
Ava smiles. "Used effectively, money can be a powerful tool for bettering the world."
Claire can't help but stare. Ava is so intense... in a really intriguing way! She lets out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"It's cool that you have such a detailed plan," Claire says.
And in an instant, Ava switches back from a hardcore businesswoman to an awkward teenage girl. "You think so?" she says, blushing and playing with the tip of her braid.
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[Image description: Ava, a pretty white redheaded girl with blue-green eyes and a face full of freckles, stands on a sidewalk overlooking the bay. Her thick hair is tied back into a braid. She's smiling.]
"Yeah," Claire says, "it's neat how you'd spend the money so charitably. But what would you do for YOU?"
Ava pauses to think. "I would buy a hypoallergenic cat."
Claire grins.
"Cats are my favorite creatures in the world, but I'm allergic." Ava lowers her voice to a stage whisper, wiping an imaginary tear from her eye. "It is my darkest secret."
They laugh.
"Do you have any more questions for us?" Ahmed asks.
"Yes," Claire says. "What are your favorite types of movies?"
