She was looking right at him now, and he could tell he had her full attention. "I just saw about the local exam; it seems like a great idea." Ma thought it was so important to get down on the real ground. When Juan was younger, she always dragged him along when she went on her field trips around the county.

"Oh, yes," said Juan. "We'll learn a lot."

Her look sharpened. "And Bertram is not in this, correct?"

"Um. No, Ma." No need to mention the unlimited exam.

"He's not here in the house, is he?"

"Ma! Of course not." Juan denied all snoop access to his friends when he was in the house. Mother knew that. "When he's here, you see him, just like when my other friends visit."

"Okay." She looked a little embarrassed, but at least she didn't repeat her opinion that "little Bertie is too slippery by half". Her attention drifted for a moment, and her fingers tapped a quick tattoo on the table top. He could see that she was off in Borrego Springs, shepherding some cinema people from LA.

"Anyway, I was wondering if I could take a car tonight. My team mate lives up in Fallbrook."

"Just a second." She finished the job she was working on. "Okay, who is your team-mate?"

"A really good student." He showed her.

Ma grinned uncertainly, a little surprised. "Good for you.... Yes, she is an excellent student, strong where you are weak—and vice versa, of course." She paused, checking out the Gu's. "They are a private sort of family, but that's okay."

"And it's a safe part of town."

She chuckled. "Yes, very safe." She respected the school rules and didn't ask about the team project. That was just as well, since Juan still had no idea what Miri Gu was planning. "But you stay out of Camp Pendleton, hear me?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Okay, you're cleared to go as soon as you have supper. I've got some big-money customers running, so I can't take a break just now. Go on downstairs and get your father and yourself something to eat. And learn something from this local project, huh? There are many careers you can have without knowing airy-fairy nonsense."