Conversations with my 10-year-old neighbor, who tests at a high school level in every subject.

On houses: "My old neighborhood had much better yards. The yards here aren't enough for Coco's (the dog) energy level. But I think what [our neighborhood] lacks in yards, they make up for in houses. Like the kitchens, for instance. The kitchens in these houses are huge. Big enough to cook gummy worms. Yes, I'm speaking from today's experience. I'm doing a gummy worm experiment. But anyway, that's just my opinion."

On his Halloween costume: "I haven't decided for myself yet. I've been thinking more for my reptiles. I might make cardboard wings for Ike, who is my bearded dragon, so he'll be an actual dragon, and if I do that, I'll be a knight so that we match. But I also kind of want to make him a tiny beard out of black felt, so he's a literal bearded dragon."