Shouldn't You Be in School? (All The Wrong Questions)

by Lemony Snicket

I closed my eyes and took a gulp of coffee. It tasted like a hot, melted tire. I was embarrassed at the noises I made when I sipped it. I opened my eyes to see if Ellington had noticed and saw she was laughing at me. “That’s not nice,” I said. “You’re right and I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s just good to see there’s one thing I’m better at than you are.” “I think you’re better at everything,” I said. I hoped the second sip would be better. It wasn’t. “I keep lurking around this mystery, but you walked right into the heart of it. I don’t know how you find the nerve to do the things you’ve done.” “I only have the nerve,” she said, “because I know you’re always close behind me.” We sipped coffee. It was still awful, but there was something wonderful about sitting together and sipping even the bitterest of beverages.