When the desserts came, Preston turned back to me.

“Seriously, though, Grace,” he said. “You should think about a backup plan. When Learnly takes off, teachers are in trouble.”

“Maybe you should learn to code, babe,” said Connor, and laughed.

I put down my spoon.

“Can I say one thing?” I said.

The table went a little quieter.

“When I was thirteen, I was failing math,” I said. “I didn't need someone to give me the answers. I had the answers in the back of the textbook. I needed someone to sit beside me and believe I could find them myself.”

I looked at Preston.

“Kids don't need answers,” I said. “They need someone who believes they can find them. An app can't do that.”

There was a pause.

Then Preston smiled and clapped, slowly.

“That's beautiful, Grace,” he said. “Really. You should put that on a mug.”

Everyone laughed.

Connor laughed the loudest.

I picked up my spoon and finished my dessert.

It was very good dessert. I want to be fair about that.