A year on a school bus

AULA WAKES UP IN HER BUS AROUND 4:30 A.M. most days. She can often still see stars. She works for a few hours, mainly on freelance projects, and makes breakfast for her 12-year-old son Max. (TIME has agreed to grant Paula and Max pseudonyms out of concern for their safety.) She feeds their dog and cat, and then she and Max, who is on the autism spectrum, begin homeschooling. They follow skills-based lesson plans that keep his work short