Astrid was sad that she didn’t have any classes with Denise this year or with either Valerie, but they were all waiting for her at the lunch line. After a quick hello, they entered the queue and picked up their tray before heading to their regular table near the center of the quad. Lunch was chicken breast with white wine herb basting sauce, with garlic potatoes, sliced heirloom tomatoes, and green beans, and a raspberry white chocolate mousse for dessert.

“Yum, pudding,” said Austin, plopping himself down next to Astrid. “Or as we say in français, pudding.”

“The call it mousse in France,” said Denise. “And you know what? They call it that in America too.”

“It’s not my fault I don’t know about all this fancy food,” he said, as Toby and Christopher took their seats. “I’m just a poor orphan trying to make my way in a strange school. I’m like Harry Potter.”

“Austin is right,” said Astrid. “We don’t want to sound like food snobs.”

“Whatever you say, Hermione,” said Denise.