He could stand up when someone was being hurt and still ask for help.

He could be brave without carrying an entire problem on thirteen-year-old shoulders.

PART 14

The following year, Cedar Creek held another winter concert.

This time, Noah did not open the evening with a story about the missing guitar, and Autumn did not have to explain why the accessible entrance mattered.

The programs listed the musicians, the pieces they would play and a short note about the student accessibility committee’s work over the preceding year.

Autumn’s parents sat beside us in the third row.