The Beginning of Everything

On Saturday night, Ezra flicks through brochures for New England colleges in his room with Cooper, imagining what it would be like living on the East Coast. Cooper is uneasy, sensing the coyotes that are back in the neighborhood. The rash of coyote attacks on small animals has prompted the local animal control to distribute cautionary handouts emblazoned with “Preventing Coyote Attacks!,” printed on recycled paper with Ezra’s class photo still on the back. Ezra smiles to himself at the overreaction of the local media about the coyotes.

On Monday, Ezra sits with Toby and his debate crew at lunch, where they chat and joke in an easy way. When he sees Jimmy spraying the girls at his old jock table with soda, he knows he made the right choice.

Ezra arrives early to his therapist appointment on Wednesday. In the waiting room, Ezra sits with an older woman who asks Ezra about his applications. Despite finding her questions intrusive, Ezra answers politely and turns back to the paperwork. When the door to the doctor’s office opens, Ezra expects to see the older woman’s relative, but instead Cassidy walks out. Cassidy looks as though she’s been crying, and both are embarrassed to be meeting there.