["Daisy\u2019s\tToys Justin\tcame\tover\tabout\thalf\tan\thour\tlater.\tHe\tgave\tme\ta\tbig\thug\tand\tsaid:\t\u201cSorry,\tAuggie.\u201d\tWe all\tsat\tdown\tin\tthe\tliving\troom,\tnot\tsaying\tanything.\tFor\tsome\treason,\tVia\tand\tI\thad\ttaken\tall of\t Daisy\u2019s\t toys\t from\t around\t the\t house\t and\t had\t put\t them\t in\t a\t little\t pile\t on\t the\t coffee\t table. Now\twe\tjust\tstared\tat\tthe\tpile. \u201cShe\treally\tis\tthe\tgreatest\tdog\tin\tthe\tworld,\u201d\tsaid\tVia. \u201cI\tknow,\u201d\tsaid\tJustin,\trubbing\tVia\u2019s\tback. \u201cShe\tjust\tstarted\twhimpering,\tlike\tall\tof\ta\tsudden?\u201d\tI\tsaid. Via\tnodded.\t\u201cLike\ttwo\tseconds\tafter\tyou\tleft\tthe\ttable,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cMom\twas\tgoing\tto\tgo\tafter you,\tbut\tDaisy\tjust\tstarted,\tlike,\twhimpering.\u201d \t \u201cLike\thow?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cJust\twhimpering,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow,\u201d\tsaid\tVia. \u201cLike\thowling?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cAuggie,\t like\t whimpering!\u201d\t she\t answered\t impatiently.\t \u201cShe\t just\t started\t moaning,\t like something\t was\t really\t hurting\t her.\t And\t she\t was\t panting\t like\t crazy.\t Then\t she\t just\t kind\t of plopped\tdown,\tand\tMom\twent\tover\tand\ttried\tto\tpick\ther\tup,\tand\twhatever,\tshe\twas\tobviously hurting.\tShe\tbit\tMom.\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cWhen\tMom\ttried\tto\ttouch\ther\tstomach,\tDaisy\tbit\ther\thand,\u201d\tVia\texplained. \u201cDaisy\tnever\tbites\tanybody!\u201d\tI\tanswered. \u201cShe\twasn\u2019t\therself,\u201d\tsaid\tJustin.\t\u201cShe\twas\tobviously\tin\tpain.\u201d \u201cDaddy\twas\tright,\u201d\tsaid\tVia.\t\u201cWe\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\tlet\ther\tget\tthis\tbad.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cHe\tknew\tshe\twas\tsick?\u201d \u201cAuggie,\t Mom\u2019s\t taken\t her\t to\t the\t vet\t like\t three\t times\t in\t the\t last\t two\t months.\t She\u2019s\t been throwing\tup\tleft\tand\tright.\tHaven\u2019t\tyou\tnoticed?\u201d \u201cBut\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tshe\twas\tsick!\u201d Via\tdidn\u2019t\tsay\tanything,\tbut\tshe\tput\ther\tarm\taround\tmy\tshoulders\tand\tpulled\tme\tcloser\tto\ther. I\tstarted\tto\tcry\tagain. \u201cI\u2019m\tsorry,\tAuggie,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tsoftly.\t\u201cI\u2019m\treally\tsorry\tabout\teverything,\tokay?\tYou\tforgive\tme? You\tknow\thow\tmuch\tI\tlove\tyou,\tright?\u201d I\tnodded.\tSomehow\tthat\tfight\tdidn\u2019t\tmatter\tmuch\tnow. \u201cWas\tMommy\tbleeding?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cIt\twas\tjust\ta\tnip,\u201d\tsaid\tVia.\t\u201cRight\tthere.\u201d\tShe\tpointed\tto\tthe\tbottom\tof\ther\tthumb\tto\tshow\tme exactly\twhere\tDaisy\thad\tbitten\tMom. \u201cDid\tit\thurt\ther?\u201d \u201cMommy\u2019s\tokay,\tAuggie.\tShe\u2019s\tfine.\u201d Mom\t and\t Dad\t came\t home\t two\t hours\t later.\t We\t knew\t the\t second\t they\t opened\t the\t door\t and Daisy\t wasn\u2019t\t with\t them\t that\t Daisy\t was\t gone.\t We\t all\t sat\t down\t in\t the\t living\t room\t around\t the pile\tof\tDaisy\u2019s\ttoys.\tDad\ttold\tus\twhat\thappened\tat\tthe\tanimal\thospital,\thow\tthe\tvet\ttook\tDaisy","for\t some\t X-rays\t and\t blood\t tests,\t then\t came\t back\t and\t told\t them\t she\t had\t a\t huge\t mass\t in\t her stomach.\tShe\twas\thaving\ttrouble\tbreathing.\tMom\tand\tDad\tdidn\u2019t\twant\ther\tto\tsuffer,\tso\tDaddy picked\ther\tup\tin\this\tarms\tlike\the\talways\tliked\tto\tdo,\twith\ther\tlegs\tstraight\tup\tin\tthe\tair,\tand\the and\t Mom\t kissed\t her\t goodbye\t over\t and\t over\t again\t and\t whispered\t to\t her\t while\t the\t vet\t put\t a needle\t into\t her\t leg.\t And\t then\t after\t about\t a\t minute\t she\t died\t in\t Daddy\u2019s\t arms.\t It\t was\t so peaceful,\tDaddy\tsaid.\tShe\twasn\u2019t\tin\tany\tpain\tat\tall.\tLike\tshe\twas\tjust\tgoing\tto\tsleep.\tA\tcouple of\ttimes\twhile\the\ttalked,\tDad\u2019s\tvoice\tgot\ttrembly\tand\the\tcleared\this\tthroat. I\u2019ve\t never\t seen\t Dad\t cry\t before,\t but\t I\t saw\t him\t cry\t tonight.\t I\t had\t gone\t into\t Mom\t and\t Dad\u2019s bedroom\tlooking\tfor\tMom\tto\tput\tme\tto\tbed,\tbut\tsaw\tDad\tsitting\ton\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tbed,\ttaking off\this\tsocks.\tHis\tback\twas\tto\tthe\tdoor,\tso\the\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tI\twas\tthere.\tAt\tfirst\tI\tthought\the\twas laughing\t because\t his\t shoulders\t were\t shaking,\t but\t then\t he\t put\t his\t palms\t on\t his\t eyes\t and\t I realized\the\twas\tcrying.\tIt\twas\tthe\tquietest\tcrying\tI\u2019ve\tever\theard.\tLike\ta\twhisper.\tI\twas\tgoing to\tgo\tover\tto\thim,\tbut\tthen\tI\tthought\tmaybe\the\twas\twhisper-crying\tbecause\the\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tme or\tanyone\telse\tto\thear\thim.\tSo\tI\twalked\tout\tand\twent\tto\tVia\u2019s\troom,\tand\tI\tsaw\tMom\tlying\tnext to\tVia\ton\tthe\tbed,\tand\tMom\twas\twhispering\tto\tVia,\twho\twas\tcrying. So\t I\t went\t to\t my\t bed\t and\t put\t on\t my\t pajamas\t without\t anyone\t telling\t me\t to\t and\t put\t the\t night- light\t on\t and\t turned\t the\t light\t off\t and\t crawled\t into\t the\t little\t mountain\t of\t stuffed\t animals\t I\t had left\ton\tmy\tbed\tearlier.\tIt\tfelt\tlike\tthat\tall\thad\thappened\ta\tmillion\tyears\tago.\tI\ttook\tmy\thearing aids\t off\t and\t put\t them\t on\t the\t night\t table\t and\t pulled\t the\t covers\t up\t to\t my\t ears\t and\t imagined Daisy\t snuggling\t with\t me,\t her\t big\t wet\t tongue\t licking\t my\t face\t all\t over\t like\t it\t was\t her\t favorite face\tin\tthe\tworld.\tAnd\tthat\u2019s\thow\tI\tfell\tasleep.","Heaven I\t woke\t up\t later\t on\t and\t it\t was\t still\t dark.\t I\t got\t out\t of\t bed\t and\t walked\t into\t Mom\t and\t Dad\u2019s bedroom. \u201cMommy?\u201d\t I\t whispered.\t It\t was\t completely\t dark,\t so\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t see\t her\t open\t her\t eyes. \u201cMommy?\u201d \u201cYou\tokay,\thoney?\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tgroggily. \u201cCan\tI\tsleep\twith\tyou?\u201d Mom\tscooted\tover\ttoward\tDaddy\u2019s\tside\tof\tthe\tbed,\tand\tI\tsnuggled\tup\tnext\tto\ther.\tShe\tkissed my\thair. \u201cIs\tyour\thand\tok\tay?\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cVia\ttold\tme\tDaisy\tbit\tyou.\u201d \u201cIt\twas\tonly\ta\tnip,\u201d\tshe\twhispered\tin\tmy\tear. \u201cMommy\t\u2026\u201d\tI\tstarted\tcrying.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tsorry\tabout\twhat\tI\tsaid.\u201d \u201cShhh\t\u2026\tThere\u2019s\tnothing\tto\tbe\tsorry\tabout,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tso\tquietly\tI\tcould\tbarely\thear\ther.\tShe was\trubbing\tthe\tside\tof\ther\tface\tagainst\tmy\tface. \u201cIs\tVia\tashamed\tof\tme?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cNo,\thoney,\tno.\tYou\tknow\tshe\u2019s\tnot.\tShe\u2019s\tjust\tadjusting\tto\ta\tnew\tschool.\tIt\u2019s\tnot\teasy.\u201d \u201cI\tknow.\u201d \u201cI\tknow\tyou\tknow.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tsorry\tI\tcalled\tyou\ta\tliar.\u201d \u201cGo\tto\tsleep,\tsweet\tboy.\u2026\tI\tlove\tyou\tso\tmuch.\u201d \u201cI\tlove\tyou\tso\tmuch,\ttoo,\tMommy.\u201d \u201cGood\tnight,\thoney,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tvery\tsoftly. \u201cMommy,\tis\tDaisy\twith\tGrans\tnow?\u201d \u201cI\tthink\tso.\u201d \u201cAre\tthey\tin\theaven?\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cDo\tpeople\tlook\tthe\tsame\twhen\tthey\tget\tto\theaven?\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tso.\u201d \u201cThen\thow\tdo\tpeople\trecognize\teach\tother?\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tknow,\tsweetie.\u201d\tShe\tsounded\ttired.\t\u201cThey\tjust\tfeel\tit.\tYou\tdon\u2019t\tneed\tyour\teyes\tto\tlove, right?\t You\t just\t feel\t it\t inside\t you.\t That\u2019s\t how\t it\t is\t in\t heaven.\t It\u2019s\t just\t love,\t and\t no\t one\t forgets who\tthey\tlove.\u201d She\tkissed\tme\tagain. \u201cNow\tgo\tto\tsleep,\thoney.\tIt\u2019s\tlate.\tAnd\tI\u2019m\tso\ttired.\u201d But\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t go\t to\t sleep,\t even\t after\t I\t knew\t she\t had\t fallen\t asleep.\t I\t could\t hear\t Daddy sleeping,\t too,\t and\t I\t imagined\t I\t could\t hear\t Via\t sleeping\t down\t the\t hallway\t in\t her\t room.\t And\t I wondered\t if\t Daisy\t was\t sleeping\t in\t heaven\t right\t then.\t And\t if\t she\t was\t sleeping,\t was\t she dreaming\tabout\tme?\tAnd\tI\twondered\thow\tit\twould\tfeel\tto\tbe\tin\theaven\tsomeday\tand\tnot\thave","my\tface\tmatter\tanymore.\tJust\tlike\tit\tnever,\tever\tmattered\tto\tDaisy.","Understudy Via\t brought\t home\t three\t tickets\t to\t her\t school\t play\t a\t few\t days\t after\t Daisy\t died.\t We\t never mentioned\t the\t fight\t we\t had\t over\t dinner\t again.\t On\t the\t night\t of\t the\t play,\t right\t before\t she\t and Justin\twere\tleaving\tto\tget\tto\ttheir\tschool\tearly,\tshe\tgave\tme\ta\tbig\thug\tand\ttold\tme\tshe\tloved me\tand\tshe\twas\tproud\tto\tbe\tmy\tsister. This\t was\t my\t first\t time\t in\t Via\u2019s\t new\t school.\t It\t was\t much\t bigger\t than\t her\t old\t school,\t and\t a thousand\ttimes\tbigger\tthan\tmy\tschool.\tMore\thallways.\tMore\troom\tfor\tpeople.\tThe\tonly\treally bad\tthing\tabout\tmy\tbionic\tLobot\thearing\taids\twas\tthe\tfact\tthat\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\twear\ta\tbaseball\tcap anymore.\t In\t situations\t like\t these,\t baseball\t caps\t come\t in\t really\t handy.\t Sometimes\t I\t wish\t I could\t still\t get\t away\t with\t wearing\t that\t old\t astronaut\t helmet\t I\t used\t to\t wear\t when\t I\t was\t little. Believe\tit\tor\tnot,\tpeople\twould\tthink\tseeing\ta\tkid\tin\tan\tastronaut\thelmet\twas\ta\tlot\tless\tweird than\tseeing\tmy\tface.\tAnyway,\tI\tkept\tmy\thead\tdown\tas\tI\twalked\tright\tbehind\tMom\tthrough\tthe long\tbright\thallways. We\t followed\t the\t crowd\t to\t the\t auditorium,\t where\t students\t handed\t out\t programs\t at\t the\t front entrance.\t We\t found\t seats\t in\t the\t fifth\t row,\t close\t to\t the\t middle.\t As\t soon\t as\t we\t sat\t down,\t Mom started\tlooking\tinside\ther\tpocketbook. \u201cI\tcan\u2019t\tbelieve\tI\tforgot\tmy\tglasses!\u201d\tshe\tsaid. Dad\t shook\t his\t head.\t Mom\t was\t always\t forgetting\t her\t glasses,\t or\t her\t keys,\t or\t something\t or other.\tShe\tis\tflaky\tthat\tway. \u201cYou\twant\tto\tmove\tcloser?\u201d\tsaid\tDad. Mom\tsquinted\tat\tthe\tstage.\t\u201cNo,\tI\tcan\tsee\tokay.\u201d \u201cSpeak\tnow\tor\tforever\thold\tyour\tpeace,\u201d\tsaid\tDad. \u201cI\u2019m\tfine,\u201d\tanswered\tMom. \u201cLook,\tthere\u2019s\tJustin,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tto\tDad,\tpointing\tout\tJustin\u2019s\tpicture\tin\tthe\tprogram. \u201cThat\u2019s\ta\tnice\tpicture\tof\thim,\u201d\the\tanswered,\tnodding. \t \u201cHow\tcome\tthere\u2019s\tno\tpicture\tof\tVia?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cShe\u2019s\tan\tunderstudy,\u201d\tsaid\tMom.\t\u201cBut,\tlook:\there\u2019s\ther\tname.\u201d \u201cWhy\tdo\tthey\tcall\ther\tan\tunderstudy?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cWow,\t look\t at\t Miranda\u2019s\t picture,\u201d\t said\t Mom\t to\t Dad.\t \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t think\t I\t would\t have\t recognized her.\u201d \u201cWhy\tdo\tthey\tcall\tit\tunderstudy?\u201d\tI\trepeated. \u201cIt\u2019s\t what\t they\t call\t someone\t who\t replaces\t an\t actor\t if\t he\t can\u2019t\t perform\t for\t some\t reason,\u201d answered\tMom. \u201cDid\tyou\thear\tMartin\u2019s\tgetting\tremarried?\u201d\tDad\tsaid\tto\tMom. \u201cAre\tyou\tkidding\tme?!\u201d\tMom\tanswered,\tlike\tshe\twas\tsurprised. \u201cWho\u2019s\tMartin?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cMiranda\u2019s\tfather,\u201d\tMom\tanswered,\tand\tthen\tto\tDad:\t\u201cWho\ttold\tyou?\u201d \u201cI\t ran\t into\t Miranda\u2019s\t mother\t in\t the\t subway.\t She\u2019s\t not\t happy\t about\t it.\t He\t has\t a\t new\t baby\t on the\tway\tand\teverything.\u201d \u201cWow,\u201d\tsaid\tMom,\tshaking\ther\thead.","\u201cWhat\tare\tyou\tguys\ttalking\tabout?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cNothing,\u201d\tanswered\tDad. \u201cBut\twhy\tdo\tthey\tcall\tit\tunderstudy?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tknow,\tAuggie\tDoggie,\u201d\tDad\tanswered.\t\u201cMaybe\tbecause\tthe\tactors\tkind\tof\tstudy\tunder the\tmain\tactors\tor\tsomething?\tI\treally\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u201d I\twas\tgoing\tto\tsay\tsomething\telse\tbut\tthen\tthe\tlights\twent\tdown.\tThe\taudience\tgot\tvery\tquiet very\tquickly. \u201cDaddy,\tcan\tyou\tplease\tnot\tcall\tme\tAuggie\tDoggie\tanymore?\u201d\tI\twhispered\tin\tDad\u2019s\tear. Dad\tsmiled\tand\tnodded\tand\tgave\tme\ta\tthumbs-up. The\tplay\tstarted.\tThe\tcurtain\topened.\tThe\tstage\twas\tcompletely\tempty\texcept\tfor\tJustin,\twho was\tsitting\ton\tan\told\trickety\tchair\ttuning\this\tfiddle.\tHe\twas\twearing\tan\told-fashioned\ttype\tof suit\tand\ta\tstraw\that. \u201cThis\tplay\tis\tcalled\t\u2018Our\tTown,\u2019\t\u201d\the\tsaid\tto\tthe\taudience.\t\u201cIt\twas\twritten\tby\tThornton\tWilder; produced\tand\tdirected\tby\tPhilip\tDavenport.\u2026\tThe\tname\tof\tthe\ttown\tis\tGrover\u2019s\tCorners,\tNew Hampshire\u2014just\tacross\tthe\tMassachusetts\tline:\tlatitude\t42\tdegrees\t40\tminutes;\tlongitude\t70 degrees\t37\tminutes.\tThe\tFirst\tAct\tshows\ta\tday\tin\tour\ttown.\tThe\tday\tis\tMay\t7,\t1901.\tThe\ttime is\tjust\tbefore\tdawn.\u201d I\tknew\tright\tthen\tand\tthere\tthat\tI\twas\tgoing\tto\tlike\tthe\tplay.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\tlike\tother\tschool\tplays I\u2019ve\tbeen\tto,\tlike\tThe\tWizard\tof\tOz\tor\tCloudy\twith\ta\tChance\tof\tMeatballs.\tNo,\tthis\twas\tgrown- up\tseeming,\tand\tI\tfelt\tsmart\tsitting\tthere\twatching\tit. A\t little\t later\t in\t the\t play,\t a\t character\t named\t Mrs.\t Webb\t calls\t out\t for\t her\t daughter,\t Emily.\t I knew\t from\t the\t program\t that\t that\t was\t the\t part\t Miranda\t was\t playing,\t so\t I\t leaned\t forward\t to get\ta\tbetter\tlook\tat\ther. \u201cThat\u2019s\tMiranda,\u201d\tMom\twhispered\tto\tme,\tsquinting\tat\tthe\tstage\twhen\tEmily\twalked\tout.\t\u201cShe looks\tso\tdifferent.\u2026\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tnot\tMiranda,\u201d\tI\twhispered.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tVia.\u201d \u201cOh\tmy\tGod!\u201d\tsaid\tMom,\tlurching\tforward\tin\ther\tseat. \u201cShh!\u201d\tsaid\tDad. \u201cIt\u2019s\tVia,\u201d\tMom\twhispered\tto\thim. \u201cI\tknow,\u201d\twhispered\tDad,\tsmiling.\t\u201cShhh!\u201d","The\tEnding The\tplay\twas\tso\tamazing.\tI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\tgive\taway\tthe\tending,\tbut\tit\u2019s\tthe\tkind\tof\tending\tthat makes\tpeople\tin\tthe\taudience\tteary.\tMom\ttotally\tlost\tit\twhen\tVia-as-Emily\tsaid: \u201cGood-by,\t Good-by\t world!\t Good-by,\t Grover\u2019s\t Corners\t \u2026\t Mama\t and\t Papa.\t Good-by\t to\t clocks ticking\t and\t Mama\u2019s\t sunflowers.\t And\t food\t and\t coffee.\t And\t new-ironed\t dresses\t and\t hot baths\t \u2026\t and\t sleeping\t and\t waking\t up.\t Oh,\t earth,\t you\u2019re\t too\t wonderful\t for\t anybody\t to\t realize you!\u201d Via\t was\t actually\t crying\t while\t she\t was\t saying\t this.\t Like\t real\t tears:\t I\t could\t see\t them\t rolling down\ther\tcheeks.\tIt\twas\ttotally\tawesome. After\tthe\tcurtain\tclosed,\teveryone\tin\tthe\taudience\tstarted\tclapping.\tThen\tthe\tactors\tcame\tout one\t by\t one.\t Via\t and\t Justin\t were\t the\t last\t ones\t out,\t and\t when\t they\t appeared,\t the\t whole audience\trose\tto\ttheir\tfeet. \u201cBravo!\u201d\tI\theard\tDad\tyelling\tthrough\this\thands. \u201cWhy\tis\teveryone\tgetting\tup?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cIt\u2019s\ta\tstanding\tovation,\u201d\tsaid\tMom,\tgetting\tup. So\tI\tgot\tup\tand\tclapped\tand\tclapped.\tI\tclapped\tuntil\tmy\thands\thurt.\tFor\ta\tsecond,\tI\timagined how\tcool\tit\twould\tbe\tto\tbe\tVia\tand\tJustin\tright\tthen,\thaving\tall\tthese\tpeople\tstanding\tup\tand cheering\t for\t them.\t I\t think\t there\t should\t be\t a\t rule\t that\t everyone\t in\t the\t world\t should\t get\t a standing\tovation\tat\tleast\tonce\t\tin\ttheir\tlives. Finally,\tafter\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\thow\tmany\tminutes,\tthe\tline\tof\tactors\tonstage\tstepped\tback\tand\tthe curtain\tclosed\tin\tfront\tof\tthem.\tThe\tclapping\tstopped\tand\tthe\tlights\twent\tup\tand\tthe\taudience started\tgetting\tup\tto\tleave. Me\tand\tMom\tand\tDad\tmade\tour\tway\tto\tthe\tbackstage.\tCrowds\tof\tpeople\twere\tcongratulating the\t performers,\t surrounding\t them,\t patting\t them\t on\t the\t back.\t We\t saw\t Via\t and\t Justin\t at\t the center\tof\tthe\tcrowd,\tsmiling\tat\teveryone,\tlaughing\tand\ttalking. \u201cVia!\u201d\t shouted\t Dad,\t waving\t as\t he\t made\t his\t way\t through\t the\t crowd.\t When\t he\t got\t close enough,\the\thugged\ther\tand\tlifted\ther\toff\tthe\tfloor\ta\tlittle.\t\u201cYou\twere\tamazing,\tsweetheart!\u201d \u201cOh\t my\t God,\t Via!\u201d\t Mom\t was\t screaming\t with\t excitement.\t \u201cOh\t my\t God,\t oh\t my\t God!\u201d\t She\t was hugging\tVia\tso\thard\tI\tthought\tVia\twould\tsuffocate,\tbut\tVia\twas\tlaughing. \u201cYou\twere\tbrilliant!\u201d\tsaid\tDad. \u201cBrilliant!\u201d\tMom\tsaid,\tkind\tof\tnodding\tand\tshaking\ther\thead\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime. \u201cAnd\tyou,\tJustin,\u201d\tsaid\tDad,\tshaking\tJustin\u2019s\thand\tand\tgiving\thim\ta\thug\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime.\t\u201cYou were\tfantastic!\u201d \u201cFantastic!\u201d\tMom\trepeated.\tShe\twas,\thonestly,\tso\temotional\tshe\tcould\tbarely\ttalk. \u201cWhat\ta\tshock\tto\tsee\tyou\tup\tthere,\tVia!\u201d\tsaid\tDad. \u201cMom\tdidn\u2019t\teven\trecognize\tyou\tat\tfirst!\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\trecognize\tyou!\u201d\tsaid\tMom,\ther\thand\tover\ther\tmouth. \u201cMiranda\tgot\tsick\tright\tbefore\tthe\tshow\tstarted,\u201d\tsaid\tVia,\tall\tof\tout\tof\tbreath.\t\u201cThere\twasn\u2019t even\t time\t to\t make\t an\t announcement.\u201d\t I\t have\t to\t say\t she\t looked\t kind\t of\t strange,\t because\t she was\twearing\tall\tthis\tmakeup\tand\tI\u2019d\tnever\tseen\ther\tlike\tthis\tbefore. \u201cAnd\tyou\tjust\tstepped\tin\tthere\tright\tat\tthe\tlast\tminute?\u201d\tsaid\tDad.\t\u201cWow.\u201d \u201cShe\twas\tamazing,\twasn\u2019t\tshe?\u201d\tsaid\tJustin,\this\tarm\taround\tVia. \u201cThere\twasn\u2019t\ta\tdry\teye\tin\tthe\thouse,\u201d\tsaid\tDad.","\u201cIs\tMiranda\tokay?\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tbut\tno\tone\theard\tme. At\tthat\tmoment,\ta\tman\twho\tI\tthink\twas\ttheir\tteacher\tcame\tover\tto\tJustin\tand\tVia,\tclapping\this hands. \u201cBravo,\tbravo!\tOlivia\tand\tJustin!\u201d\tHe\tkissed\tVia\ton\tboth\tcheeks. \u201cI\tflubbed\ta\tcouple\tof\tlines,\u201d\tsaid\tVia,\tshaking\ther\thead. \u201cBut\tyou\tgot\tthrough\tit,\u201d\tsaid\tthe\tman,\tsmiling\tear\tto\tear. \u201cMr.\tDavenport,\tthese\tare\tmy\tparents,\u201d\tsaid\tVia. \u201cYou\tmust\tbe\tso\tproud\tof\tyour\tgirl!\u201d\the\tsaid,\tshaking\ttheir\thands\twith\tboth\this\thands. \u201cWe\tare!\u201d \u201cAnd\tthis\tis\tmy\tlittle\tbrother,\tAugust,\u201d\tsaid\tVia. He\tlooked\tlike\the\twas\tabou\tt\tto\tsay\tsomething\tbut\tsuddenly\tfroze\twhen\the\tlooked\tat\tme. \u201cMr.\tD,\u201d\tsaid\tJustin,\tpulling\thim\tby\tthe\tarm,\t\u201ccome\tmeet\tmy\tmom.\u201d Via\t was\t about\t to\t say\t something\t to\t me,\t but\t then\t someone\t else\t came\t over\t and\t started\t talking to\ther,\tand\tbefore\tI\tknew\tit,\tI\twas\tkind\tof\talone\tin\tthe\tcrowd.\tI\tmean,\tI\tknew\twhere\tMom\tand Dad\t were,\t but\t there\t were\t so\t many\t people\t all\t around\t us,\t and\t people\t kept\t bumping\t into\t me, spinning\t me\t around\t a\t bit,\t giving\t me\t that\t one-two\t look,\t which\t made\t me\t feel\t kind\t of\t bad.\t I don\u2019t\tknow\tif\tit\twas\tbecause\tI\twas\tfeeling\thot\tor\tsomething,\tbut\tI\tkind\tof\tstarted\tgetting\tdizzy. People\u2019s\tfaces\twere\tblurring\tin\tmy\thead.\tAnd\ttheir\tvoices\twere\tso\tloud\tit\twas\talmost\thurting my\t ears.\t I\t tried\t to\t turn\t the\t volume\t down\t on\t my\t Lobot\t ears,\t but\t I\t got\t confused\t and\t turned them\tlouder\tat\tfirst,\twhich\tkind\tof\tshocked\tme.\tAnd\tthen\tI\tlooked\tup\tand\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tsee\tMom\tor Dad\tor\tVia\tanywhere. \u201cVia?\u201d\t I\t yelled\t out.\t I\t started\t pushing\t through\t the\t crowd\t to\t find\t Mom.\t \u201cMommy!\u201d\t I\t really couldn\u2019t\tsee\tanything\tbut\tpeople\u2019s\tstomachs\tand\tties\tall\taround\tme.\t\u201cMommy!\u201d Suddenly\tsomeone\tpicked\tme\tup\tfrom\tbehind. \u201cLook\t who\u2019s\t here!\u201d\t said\t a\t familiar\t voice,\t hugging\t me\t tight.\t I\t thought\t it\t was\t Via\t at\t first,\t but when\tI\tturned\taround,\tI\twas\tcompletely\tsurprised.\t\u201cHey,\tMajor\tTom!\u201d\tshe\tsaid. \u201cMiranda!\u201d\tI\tanswered,\tand\tI\tgave\ther\tthe\ttightest\thug\tI\tcould\tgive.","I\tforgot\tthat\tI\tmight\tsee So\tmany\tbeautiful\tthings I\tforgot\tthat\tI\tmight\tneed To\tfind\tout\twhat\tlife\tcould\tbring \u2014Andain,\t\u201cBeautiful\tThings\u201d","Camp\tLies My\t parents\t got\t divorced\t the\t summer\t before\t ninth\t grade.\t My\t father\t was\t with\t someone\t else right\t away.\t In\t fact,\t though\t my\t mother\t never\t said\t so,\t I\t think\t this\t was\t the\t reason\t they\t got divorced. After\t the\t divorce,\t I\t hardly\t ever\t saw\t my\t father.\t And\t my\t mother\t acted\t stranger\t than\t ever.\t It\u2019s not\t that\t she\t was\t unstable\t or\t anything:\t just\t distant.\t Remote.\t My\t mother\t is\t the\t kind\t of\t person who\t has\t a\t happy\t face\t for\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t world\t but\t not\t a\t lot\t left\t over\t for\t me.\t She\u2019s\t never talked\t to\t me\t much\u2014not\t about\t her\t feelings,\t her\t life.\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t much\t about\t what\t she\t was like\twhen\tshe\twas\tmy\tage.\tDon\u2019t\tknow\tmuch\tabout\tthe\tthings\tshe\tliked\tor\tdidn\u2019t\tlike.\tThe\tfew times\t she\t mentioned\t her\t own\t parents,\t who\t I\u2019ve\t never\t met,\t it\t was\t mostly\t about\t how\t she wanted\t to\t get\t as\t far\t away\t from\t them\t as\t she\t could\t once\t she\u2019d\t grown\t up.\t She\t never\t told\t me why.\tI\tasked\ta\tfew\ttimes,\tbut\tshe\twould\tpretend\tshe\thadn\u2019t\theard\tme. I\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t go\t to\t camp\t that\t summer.\t I\t had\t wanted\t to\t stay\t with\t her,\t to\t help\t her\t through the\tdivorce.\tBut\tshe\tinsisted\tI\tgo\taway.\tI\tfigured\tshe\twanted\tthe\talone\ttime,\tso\tI\tgave\tit\tto\ther. Camp\t was\t awful.\t I\t hated\t it.\t I\t thought\t it\t would\t be\t better\t being\t a\t junior\t counselor,\t but\t it wasn\u2019t.\tNo\tone\tI\tknew\tfrom\tthe\tprevious\tyear\thad\tcome\tback,\tso\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tanyone\u2014not\ta single\tperson.\tI\u2019m\tnot\teven\tsure\twhy,\tbut\tI\tstarted\tplaying\tthis\tlittle\tmake-believe\tgame\twith the\t girls\t in\t the\t camp.\t They\u2019d\t ask\t me\t stuff\t about\t myself,\t and\t I\u2019d\t make\t things\t up:\t my\t parents are\t in\t Europe,\t I\t told\t them.\t I\t live\t in\t a\t huge\t townhouse\t on\t the\t nicest\t street\t in\t North\t River Heights.\tI\thave\ta\tdog\tnamed\tDaisy. Then\tone\tday\tI\tblurted\tout\tthat\tI\thad\ta\tlittle\tbrother\twho\twas\tdeformed.\tI\thave\tabsolutely\tno idea\twhy\tI\tsaid\tthis:\tit\tjust\tseemed\tlike\tan\tinteresting\tthing\tto\tsay.\tAnd,\tof\tcourse,\tthe\treaction I\tgot\tfrom\tthe\tlittle\tgirls\tin\tthe\tbungalow\twas\tdramatic.\tReally?\tSo\tsorry!\tThat\tmust\tbe\ttough! Et\t cetera.\t Et\t cetera.\t I\t regretted\t saying\t this\t the\t moment\t it\t escaped\t from\t my\t lips,\t of\t course:\t I felt\t like\t such\t a\t fake.\t If\t Via\t ever\t found\t out,\t I\t thought,\t she\u2019d\t think\t I\t was\t such\t a\t weirdo.\t And\t I felt\tlike\ta\tweirdo.\tBut,\tI\thave\tto\tadmit,\tthere\twas\ta\tpart\tof\tme\tthat\tfelt\ta\tlittle\tentitled\tto\tthis lie.\t I\u2019ve\t known\t Auggie\t since\t I\t was\t six\t years\t old.\t I\u2019ve\t watched\t him\t grow\t up.\t I\u2019ve\t played\t with him.\tI\u2019ve\twatched\tall\tsix\tepisodes\tof\tStar\tWars\t for\t his\t sake,\t so\t I\t could\t talk\t to\t him\t about\t the aliens\t and\t bounty\t hunters\t and\t all\t that.\t I\u2019m\t the\t one\t that\t gave\t him\t the\t astronaut\t helmet\t he wouldn\u2019t\t take\t off\t for\t two\t years.\t I\t mean,\t I\u2019ve\t kind\t of\t earned\t the\t right\t to\t think\t of\t him\t as\t my brother. And\tthe\tstrangest\tthing\tis\tthat\tthese\tlies\tI\ttold,\tthese\tfictions,\tdid\twonders\tfor\tmy\tpopularity. The\tother\tjunior\tcounselors\theard\tit\tfrom\tthe\tcampers,\tand\tthey\twere\tall\tover\tit.\tNever\tin\tmy life\t have\t I\t ever\t been\t considered\t one\t of\t the\t \u201cpopular\u201d\t girls\t in\t anything,\t but\t that\t summer\t in camp,\t for\t whatever\t reason,\t I\t was\t the\t girl\t everybody\t wanted\t to\t hang\t out\t with.\t Even\t the\t girls in\t bungalow\t 32\t were\t totally\t into\t me.\t These\t were\t the\t girls\t at\t the\t top\t of\t the\t food\t chain.\t They said\t they\t liked\t my\t hair\t (though\t they\t changed\t it).\t They\t said\t they\t liked\t the\t way\t I\t did\t my makeup\t(though\tthey\tchanged\tthat,\ttoo).\tThey\tshowed\tme\thow\tto\tturn\tmy\tT-shirts\tinto\thalter tops.\tWe\tsmoked.\tWe\tsnuck\tout\tlate\tat\tnight\tand\ttook\tthe\tpath\tthrough\tthe\twoods\tto\tthe\tboys\u2019 camp.\tWe\thung\tout\twith\tboys. When\tI\tgot\thome\tfrom\tcamp,\tI\tcalled\tElla\tright\taway\tto\tmake\tplans\twith\ther.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhy I\t didn\u2019t\t call\t Via.\t I\t guess\t I\t just\t didn\u2019t\t feel\t like\t talking\t about\t stuff\t with\t her.\t She\t would\t have asked\tme\tabout\tmy\tparents,\tabout\tcamp.\tElla\tnever\treally\tasked\tme\tabout\tthings.\tShe\twas\tan easier\tfriend\tto\thave\tin\tthat\tway.\tShe\twasn\u2019t\tserious\tlike\tVia.\tShe\twas\tfun.\tShe\tthought\tit\twas cool\t when\t I\t dyed\t my\t hair\t pink.\t She\t wanted\t to\t hear\t all\t about\t those\t trips\t through\t the\t woods late\tat\tnight.","School I\t hardly\t s\t aw\t Via\t at\t school\t this\t year,\t and\t when\t I\t did\t it\t was\t awkward.\t It\t felt\t like\t she\t was judging\t me.\t I\t knew\t she\t didn\u2019t\t like\t my\t new\t look.\t I\t knew\t she\t didn\u2019t\t like\t my\t group\t of\t friends.\t I didn\u2019t\tmuch\tlike\thers.\tWe\tnever\tactually\targued:\twe\tjust\tdrifted\taway.\tElla\tand\tI\tbadmouthed her\t to\t each\t other:\t She\u2019s\t such\t a\t prude,\t she\u2019s\t so\t this,\t she\u2019s\t so\t that.\t We\t knew\t we\t were\t being mean,\tbut\tit\twas\teasier\tto\tice\ther\tout\tif\twe\tpretended\tshe\thad\tdone\tsomething\tto\tus.\tThe\ttruth is\t she\t hadn\u2019t\t changed\t at\t all:\t we\t had.\t We\u2019d\t become\t these\t other\t people,\t and\t she\t was\t still\t the person\tshe\u2019d\talways\tbeen.\tThat\tannoyed\tme\tso\tmuch\tand\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhy. Once\t in\t a\t while\t I\u2019d\t look\t to\t see\t where\t she\t was\t sitting\t in\t the\t lunchroom,\t or\t check\t the\t elective lists\t to\t see\t what\t she\u2019d\t signed\t up\t for.\t But\t except\t for\t a\t few\t nods\t in\t the\t hallway\t and\t an occasional\t\u201chello,\u201d\twe\tnever\treally\tspoke\tto\teach\tother. I\tnoticed\tJustin\tabout\thalfway\tthrough\tthe\tschool\tyear.\tI\thadn\u2019t\tnoticed\thim\tat\tall\tbefore\tthen, other\tthan\tthat\the\twas\tthis\tskinny\tcutish\tdude\twith\tthick\tglasses\tand\tlongish\thair\twho\tcarried a\tviolin\t everywhere.\tThen\t one\tday\t I\tsaw\t him\tin\t front\t of\tthe\t school\twith\t his\tarm\t around\tVia. \u201cSo\tVia\thas\ta\tboyfriend!\u201d\tI\tsaid\tto\tElla,\tkind\tof\tmocking.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhy\tit\tsurprised\tme\tthat she\u2019d\t have\t a\t boyfriend.\t Out\t of\t the\t three\t of\t us,\t she\t was\t totally\t the\t prettiest:\t blue,\t blue\t eyes and\tlong\twavy\tdark\thair.\tBut\tshe\u2019d\tjust\tnever\tacted\tlike\tshe\twas\tat\tall\tinterested\tin\tboys.\tShe acted\tlike\tshe\twas\ttoo\tsmart\tfor\tthat\tkind\tof\tstuff. I\thad\ta\tboyfriend,\ttoo:\ta\tguy\tnamed\tZack.\tWhen\tI\ttold\thim\tI\twas\tchoosing\tthe\ttheater\telective, he\t shook\t his\t head\t and\t said:\t \u201cCareful\t you\t don\u2019t\t turn\t into\t a\t drama\t geek.\u201d\t Not\t the\t most sympathetic\tdude\tin\tthe\tworld,\tbut\tvery\tcute.\tVery\thigh\tup\ton\tthe\ttotem\tpole.\tA\tvarsity\tjock. I\t wasn\u2019t\t planning\t on\t taking\t theater\t at\t first.\t Then\t I\t saw\t Via\u2019s\t name\t on\t the\t sign-up\t sheet\t and just\t wrote\t my\t name\t down\t on\t the\t list.\t I\t don\u2019t\t even\t know\t why.\t We\t managed\t to\t avoid\t one another\tthroughout\tmost\tof\tthe\tsemester,\tlike\twe\tdidn\u2019t\teven\tknow\teach\tother.\tThen\tone\tday\tI got\t to\t theater\t class\t a\t little\t early,\t and\t Davenport\t asked\t me\t to\t run\t off\t additional\t copies\t of\t the play\the\twas\tplanning\ton\thaving\tus\tdo\tfor\tthe\tspring\tproduction:\tThe\tElephant\tMan.\tI\u2019d\theard about\t it\t but\t I\t didn\u2019t\t really\t know\t what\t it\t was\t about,\t so\t I\t started\t skimming\t through\t the\t pages while\tI\twas\twaiting\tfor\tthe\txerox\tmachine.\tIt\twas\tabout\ta\tman\twho\tlived\tmore\tthan\ta\thundred years\tago\tnamed\tJohn\tMerrick\twho\twas\tterribly\tdeformed. \u201cWe\tcan\u2019t\tdo\tthis\tplay,\tMr.\tD,\u201d\tI\ttold\thim\twhen\tI\tgot\tback\tto\tclass,\tand\tI\ttold\thim\twhy:\tmy\tlittle brother\thas\ta\tbirth\tdefect\tand\thas\ta\tdeformed\tface\tand\tthis\tplay\twould\thit\ttoo\tclose\tto\thome. He\tseemed\tannoyed\tand\ta\tlittle\tunsympathetic,\tbut\tI\tkind\tof\tsaid\tthat\tmy\tparents\twould\thave a\treal\tissue\twith\tthe\tschool\tdoing\tthis\tplay.\tSo\tanyway,\the\tended\tup\tswitching\tto\tOur\tTown. I\t think\t I\t went\t for\t the\t role\t of\t Emily\t Gibbs\t because\t I\t knew\t Via\t was\t going\t to\t go\t for\t it,\t too.\t It never\toccurred\tto\tme\tthat\tI\u2019d\tbeat\ther\tfor\tthe\trole.","What\tI\tMiss\tMost One\t of\t the\t things\t I\t miss\t the\t most\t about\t Via\u2019s\t friendship\t is\t her\t family.\t I\t loved\t her\t mom\t and dad.\t They\t were\t always\t so\t welcoming\t and\t nice\t to\t me.\t I\t knew\t they\t loved\t their\t kids\t more\t than anything.\tI\talways\tfelt\tsafe\taround\tthem:\tsafer\tthan\tanywhere\telse\tin\tthe\tworld.\tHow\tpathetic that\tI\tfelt\tsafer\tin\tsomeone\telse\u2019s\thouse\tthan\tin\tmy\town,\tright?\tAnd,\tof\tcourse,\tI\tloved\tAuggie. I\twas\tnever\tafraid\tof\thim:\teven\twhen\tI\twas\tlittle.\tI\thad\tfriends\tthat\tcouldn\u2019t\tbelieve\tI\u2019d\tever\tgo over\t to\t Via\u2019s\t house.\t \u201cHis\t face\t creeps\t me\t out,\u201d\t they\u2019d\t say.\t \u201cYou\u2019re\t stupid,\u201d\t I\u2019d\t tell\t them. Auggie\u2019s\tface\tisn\u2019t\tso\tbad\tonce\tyou\tget\tused\tto\tit. I\tcalled\tVia\u2019s\thouse\tonce\tjust\tto\tsay\thello\tto\tAuggie.\tMaybe\tpart\tof\tme\twas\thoping\tVia\twould answer,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow. \u201cHey,\tMajor\tTom!\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tusing\tmy\tnickname\tfor\thim. \u201cMiranda!\u201d\tHe\tsounded\tso\thappy\tto\thear\tmy\tvoice\tit\tactually\tkind\tof\ttook\tme\tby\tsurprise.\t\u201cI\u2019m going\tto\ta\tregular\tschool\tnow!\u201d\the\ttold\tme\texcitedly. \u201cReally?\tWow!\u201d\tI\tsaid,\ttotally\tshocked.\tI\tguess\tI\tnever\tthought\the\u2019d\tgo\tto\ta\tregular\tschool.\tHis parents\thave\talways\tbeen\tso\tprotective\tof\thim.\tI\tguess\tI\tthought\the\u2019d\talways\tbe\tthat\tlittle\tkid in\t the\t astronaut\t helmet\t I\t gave\t him.\t Talking\t to\t him,\t I\t could\t tell\t he\t had\t no\t idea\t that\t Via\t and\t I weren\u2019t\tclose\tanymore.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tdifferent\tin\thigh\tschool,\u201d\tI\texplained\tto\thim.\t\u201cYou\tend\tup\thanging out\twith\tloads\tof\tdifferent\tpeople.\u201d \u201cI\t have\t some\t friends\t in\t my\t new\t school,\u201d\t he\t told\t me.\t \u201cA\t kid\t named\t Jack\t and\t a\t girl\t named Summer.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\t awesome,\t Auggie,\u201d\t I\t said.\t \u201cWell,\t I\t was\t just\t calling\t to\t tell\t you\t I\t miss\t you\t and\t hope you\u2019re\thaving\ta\tgood\tyear.\tFeel\tfree\tto\tcall\tme\twhenever\tyou\twant,\tokay,\tAuggie?\tYou\tknow\tI love\tyou\talways.\u201d \u201cI\tlove\tyou,\ttoo,\tMiranda!\u201d \u201cSay\thi\tto\tVia\tfor\tme.\tTell\ther\tI\tmiss\ther.\u201d \u201cI\twill.\tBye!\u201d \u201cBye!\u201d","Extraordinary,\tbut\tNo\tOne\tThere\tto\tSee Neither\t my\t mother\t nor\t my\t father\t could\t come\t see\t the\t play\t on\t opening\t night:\t my\t mother because\tshe\thad\tthis\tthing\tat\twork,\tand\tmy\tdad\tbecause\this\tnew\twife\twas\tgoing\tto\thave\ther baby\tany\tsecond\tnow,\tand\the\thad\tto\tbe\ton\tcall. Zack\t couldn\u2019t\t come\t to\t opening\t night,\t either:\t he\t had\t a\t volleyball\t game\t against\t Collegiate\t he couldn\u2019t\tmiss.\tIn\tfact,\the\thad\twanted\tme\tto\tmiss\tthe\topening\tnight\tso\tI\tcould\tcome\tcheer\thim on.\t My\t \u201cfriends\u201d\t all\t went\t to\t the\t game,\t of\t course,\t because\t all\t their\t boyfriends\t were\t playing. Even\tElla\tdidn\u2019t\tcome.\tGiven\ta\tchoice,\tshe\tchose\tthe\tcrowd. So\ton\topening\tnight\tno\tone\tthat\twas\tremotely\tclose\tto\tme\twas\teven\tthere.\tAnd\tthe\tthing\tis,\tI realized\t in\t my\t third\t or\t fourth\t rehearsal\t that\t I\t was\t good\t at\t this\t acting\t thing.\t I\t felt\t the\t part.\t I understood\tthe\twords\tI\tspoke.\tI\tcould\tread\tthe\tlines\tas\tif\tthey\twere\tcoming\tfrom\tmy\tbrain\tand my\theart.\tAnd\ton\topening\tnight,\tI\tcan\thonestly\tsay\tI\tknew\tI\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\tmore\tthan\tgood:\tI was\t going\t to\t be\t great.\t I\t was\t going\t to\t be\t extraordinary,\t but\t there\t would\t be\t no\t one\t there\t to see. \t We\t were\t all\t backstage,\t nervously\t running\t through\t our\t lines\t in\t our\t heads.\t I\t peeked\t through the\t curtain\t at\t the\t people\t taking\t their\t seats\t in\t the\t auditorium.\t That\u2019s\t when\t I\t saw\t Auggie walking\t down\t the\t aisle\t with\t Isabel\t and\t Nate.\t They\t took\t three\t seats\t in\t the\t fifth\t row,\t near\t the middle.\tAuggie\twas\twearing\ta\tbow\ttie,\tlooking\taround\texcitedly.\tHe\thad\tgrown\tup\ta\tbit\tsince I\u2019d\t last\t seen\t him,\t almost\t a\t year\t ago.\t His\t hair\t was\t shorter,\t and\t he\t was\t wearing\t some\t kind\t of hearing\taid\tn\tow.\tHis\tface\thadn\u2019t\tchanged\ta\tbit. Davenport\twas\trunning\tthrough\tsome\tlast-minute\tchanges\twith\tthe\tset\tdecorator.\tI\tsaw\tJustin pacing\toff\tstage\tleft,\tmumbling\this\tlines\tnervously. \u201cMr.\tDavenport,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tsurprising\tmyself\tas\tI\tspoke.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tsorry,\tbut\tI\tcan\u2019t\tgo\ton\ttonight.\u201d Davenport\tturned\taround\tslowly. \u201cWhat?\u201d\the\tsaid. \u201cI\u2019m\tsorry.\u201d \u201cAre\tyou\tkidding?\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\t just\t \u2026,\u201d\t I\t muttered,\t looking\t down,\t \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t feel\t well.\t I\u2019m\t sorry.\t I\t feel\t like\t I\u2019m\t going\t to throw\tup.\u201d\tThis\twas\ta\tlie. \u201cIt\u2019s\tjust\tlast-minute\tjitters.\u2026\u201d \u201cNo!\tI\tcan\u2019t\tdo\tit!\tI\u2019m\ttelling\tyou.\u201d Davenport\tlooked\tfurious.\t\u201cMiranda,\tthis\tis\toutrageous.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tsorry!\u201d Davenport\ttook\ta\tdeep\tbreath,\tlike\the\twas\ttrying\tto\trestrain\thimself.\tTo\tbe\ttruthful,\tI\tthought he\t looked\t like\t he\t was\t going\t to\t explode.\t His\t forehead\t turned\t bright\t pink.\t \u201cMiranda,\t this\t is absolutely\tunacceptable!\tNow\tgo\ttake\ta\tfew\tdeep\tbreaths\tand\u2014\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tnot\tgoing\ton!\u201d\tI\tsaid\tloudly,\tand\tthe\ttears\tcame\tto\tmy\teyes\tfairly\teasily. \u201cFine!\u201d\the\tscreamed,\tnot\tlooking\tat\tme.\tThen\the\tturned\tto\ta\tkid\tnamed\tDavid,\twho\twas\ta\tset decorator.\t\u201cGo\tfind\tOlivia\tin\tthe\tlighting\tbooth!\tTell\ther\tshe\u2019s\tfilling\tin\tfor\tMiranda\ttonight!\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d\tsaid\tDavid,\twho\twasn\u2019t\ttoo\tswift. \u201cGo!\u201d\t shouted\t Davenport\t in\t his\t face.\t \u201cNow!\u201d\t The\t other\t kids\t had\t caught\t on\t to\t what\t was happening\tand\tgathered\taround. \u201cWhat\u2019s\tgoing\ton?\u201d\tsaid\tJustin.","\u201cLast-minute\tchange\tof\tplans,\u201d\tsaid\tDavenport.\t\u201cMiranda\tdoesn\u2019t\tfeel\twell.\u201d \u201cI\tfeel\tsick,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\ttrying\tto\tsound\tsick. \u201cSo\t why\t are\t you\t still\t here?\u201d\t Davenport\t said\t to\t me\t angrily.\t \u201cStop\t talking,\t take\t off\t your costume,\tand\tgive\tit\tto\tOlivia!\tOkay?\tCome\ton,\teverybody!\tLet\u2019s\tgo!\tGo!\tGo!\u201d I\tran\tbackstage\tto\tthe\tdressing\troom\tas\tquickly\tas\tI\tcould\tand\tstarted\tpeeling\toff\tmy\tcostume. Two\tseconds\tlater\tthere\twas\ta\tknock\tand\tVia\thalf\topened\tthe\tdoor. \u201cWhat\tis\tgoing\ton?\u201d\tshe\tsaid. \u201cHurry\tup,\tput\tit\ton,\u201d\tI\tanswered,\thanding\ther\tthe\tdress. \u201cYou\u2019re\tsick?\u201d \u201cYeah!\tHurry\tup!\u201d Via,\tlooking\tstunned,\ttook\toff\ther\tT-shirt\tand\tjeans\tand\tpulled\tthe\tlong\tdress\tover\ther\thead.\tI pulled\tit\tdown\tfor\ther,\tand\tthen\tzipped\tup\tthe\tback.\tLuckily,\tEmily\tWebb\tdidn\u2019t\tgo\ton\tuntil\tten minutes\tinto\tthe\tplay,\tso\tthe\tgirl\thandling\thair\tand\tmakeup\thad\ttime\tto\tput\tVia\u2019s\thair\tup\tin\ta twist\tand\tdo\ta\tquick\tmakeup\tjob.\tI\u2019d\tnever\tseen\tVia\twith\ta\tlot\tof\tmakeup\ton:\tshe\tlooked\tlike\ta model. \u201cI\u2019m\t not\t even\t sure\t I\u2019ll\t remember\t my\t lines,\u201d\t Via\t said,\t looking\t at\t herself\t in\t the\t mirror.\t \u201cYour lines.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019ll\tdo\tgreat,\u201d\tI\tsaid. She\tlooked\tat\tme\tin\tthe\tmirror.\t\u201cWhy\tare\tyou\tdoing\tthis,\tMiranda?\u201d \u201cOlivia!\u201d\t It\t was\t Davenport,\t hush-shouting\t from\t the\t door.\t \u201cYou\u2019re\t on\t in\t two\t minutes.\t It\u2019s\t now or\tnever!\u201d Via\tfollowed\thim\tout\tthe\tdoor,\tso\tI\tnever\tgot\tthe\tchance\tto\tanswer\ther\tquestion.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow what\tI\twould\thave\tsaid,\tanyway.\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure\twhat\tthe\tanswer\twas.","The\tPerformance I\t watched\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t play\t from\t the\t wings\t just\t offstage,\t next\t to\t Davenport.\t Justin\t was amazing,\t and\t Via,\t in\t that\t heartbreaking\t last\t scene,\t was\t awesome.\t There\t was\t one\t line\t she flubbed\t a\t bit,\t but\t Justin\t covered\t for\t her,\t and\t no\t one\t in\t the\t audience\t even\t noticed.\t I\t heard Davenport\tmuttering\tunder\this\tbreath:\t\u201cGood,\tgood,\tgood.\u201d\tHe\twas\tmore\tnervous\tthan\tall\tof the\tstudents\tput\ttogether:\tthe\tactors,\tthe\tset\tdecorators,\tthe\tlighting\tteam,\tthe\tguy\thandling the\tcurtains.\tDavenport\twas\ta\twreck,\tfrankly. The\tonly\ttime\tI\tfelt\tany\tregret,\tif\tyou\tcould\teven\tcall\tit\tthat,\twas\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tplay\twhen everyone\twent\tout\tfor\ttheir\tcurtain\tcalls.\tVia\tand\tJustin\twere\tthe\tlast\tof\tthe\tactors\twalking\tout onstage,\t and\t the\t audience\t rose\t to\t their\t feet\t when\t they\t took\t their\t bows.\t That,\t I\t admit,\t was\t a little\tbittersweet\tfor\tme.\tBut\tjust\ta\tfew\tminutes\tlater\tI\tsaw\tNate\tand\tIsabel\tand\tAuggie\tmake their\t way\t backstage,\t and\t they\t all\t seemed\t so\t happy.\t Everyone\t was\t congratulating\t the\t actors, patting\t them\t on\t the\t back.\t It\t was\t that\t crazy\t backstage\t theater\t mayhem\t where\t sweaty\t actors stand\teuphoric\twhile\tpeople\tcome\tworship\tthem\tfor\ta\tfew\tseconds.\tIn\tthat\tcrush\tof\tpeople,\tI noticed\t Auggie\t looking\t kind\t of\t lost.\t I\t cut\t through\t the\t crowd\t as\t fast\t as\t I\t could\t and\t came\t up behind\thim. \u201cHey!\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cMajor\tTom!\u201d","After\tthe\tShow I\tcan\u2019t\tsay\twhy\tI\twas\tso\thappy\tto\tsee\tAugust\tagain\tafter\tso\tlong,\tor\thow\tgood\tit\tfelt\twhen\the hugged\tme. \u201cI\tcan\u2019t\tbelieve\thow\tbig\tyou\u2019ve\tgotten,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tto\thim. \u201cI\tthought\tyou\twere\tgoing\tto\tbe\tin\tthe\tplay!\u201d\the\tsaid. \u201cI\twasn\u2019t\tup\tto\tit,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cBut\tVia\twas\tgreat,\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tthink?\u201d He\tnodded.\tTwo\tseconds\tlater\tIsabel\tfound\tus. \u201cMiranda!\u201d\t she\t said\t happily,\t giving\t me\t a\t kiss\t on\t the\t cheek.\t And\t then\t to\t August:\t \u201cDon\u2019t\t ever disappear\tlike\tthat\tagain.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re\tthe\tone\twho\tdisappeared,\u201d\tAuggie\tanswered\tback. \u201cHow\tare\tyou\tfeeling?\u201d\tIsabel\tsaid\tto\tme.\t\u201cVia\ttold\tus\tyou\tgot\tsick.\u2026\u201d \u201cMuch\tbetter,\u201d\tI\tanswered. \u201cIs\tyour\tmom\there?\u201d\tsaid\tIsabel. \u201cNo,\tshe\thad\twork\tstuff,\tso\tit\u2019s\tactually\tnot\ta\tbig\tdeal\tfor\tme,\u201d\tI\tsaid\ttruthfully.\t\u201cWe\thave\ttwo more\tshows\tanyway,\tthough\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tI\u2019ll\tbe\tas\tgood\tan\tEmily\tas\tVia\twas\ttonight.\u201d Nate\t came\t over\t and\t we\t had\t basically\t the\t same\t exact\t conversation.\t Then\t Isabel\t said:\t \u201cLook, we\u2019re\tgoing\tto\thave\ta\tlate-night\tdinner\tto\tcelebrate\tthe\tshow.\tAre\tyou\tfeeling\tup\tto\tjoining\tus? We\u2019d\tlove\tto\thave\tyou!\u201d \u201cOh,\tno\t\u2026,\u201d\tI\tstarted\tto\tsay. \u201cPleeease?\u201d\tsaid\tAuggie. \u201cI\tshould\tgo\thome,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cWe\tinsist,\u201d\tsaid\tNate. \t By\tnow\tVia\tand\tJustin\thad\tcome\tover\twith\tJustin\u2019s\tmom,\tand\tVia\tput\ther\tarm\taround\tme. \u201cYou\u2019re\tdefinitely\tcoming,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tsmiling\ther\told\tsmile\tat\tme.\tThey\tstarted\tleading\tme\tout of\tthe\tcrowd,\tand\tI\thave\tto\tadmit,\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tin\ta\tvery,\tvery\tlong\ttime,\tI\tfelt\tabsolutely happy.","You\u2019re\tgonna\treach\tthe\tsky Fly\t\u2026\tBeautiful\tchild \u2014Eurythmics,\t\u201cBeautiful\tChild\u201d","The\tFifth-Grade\tNature\tRetreat Every\t year\t in\t the\t spring,\t the\t fifth\t graders\t of\t Beecher\t Prep\t go\t away\t for\t three\t days\t and\t two nights\t to\t a\t place\t called\t the\t Broarwood\t Nature\t Reserve\t in\t Pennsylvania.\t It\u2019s\t a\t four-hour\t bus drive\t away.\t The\t kids\t sleep\t in\t cabins\t with\t bunk\t beds.\t There\t are\t campfires\t and\t s\u2019mores\t and long\t walks\t through\t the\t woods.\t The\t teachers\t have\t been\t prepping\t us\t about\t this\t all\t year\t long, so\tall\tthe\tkids\tin\tthe\tgrade\tare\texcited\tabout\tit\u2014except\tfor\tme.\tAnd\tit\u2019s\tnot\teven\tthat\tI\u2019m\tnot excited,\tbecause\tI\tkind\tof\tam\u2014it\u2019s\tjust\tI\u2019ve\tnever\tslept\taway\tfrom\thome\tbefore\tand\tI\u2019m\tkind\tof nervous. Most\t kids\t have\t had\t sleepovers\t by\t the\t time\t they\u2019re\t my\t age.\t A\t lot\t of\t kids\t have\t gone\t to sleepaway\t camps,\t or\t stayed\t with\t their\t grandparents\t or\t whatever.\t Not\t me.\t Not\t unless\t you include\t hospital\t stays,\t but\t even\t then\t Mom\t or\t Dad\t always\t stayed\t with\t me\t overnight.\t But\t I never\t slept\t over\t Tata\t and\t Poppa\u2019s\t house,\t or\t Aunt\t Kate\t and\t Uncle\t Po\u2019s\t house.\t When\t I\t was really\tlittle,\tthat\twas\tmainly\tbecause\tthere\twere\ttoo\tmany\tmedical\tissues,\tlike\tmy\ttrache\ttube needing\tto\tbe\tcleared\tevery\thour,\tor\treinserting\tmy\tfeeding\ttube\tif\tit\tgot\tdetached.\tBut\twhen\tI got\tbigger,\tI\tjust\tnever\tfelt\tlike\tsleeping\tanywhere\telse.\tThere\twas\tone\ttime\twhen\tI\thalf\tslept over\tChristopher\u2019s\thouse.\tWe\twere\tabout\teight,\tand\twe\twere\tstill\tbest\tfriends.\tOur\tfamily\thad gone\t for\t a\t visit\t to\t his\t house,\t and\t me\t and\t Christopher\t were\t having\t such\t a\t great\t time\t playing Legos\t Star\t Wars\t that\t I\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t leave\t when\t it\t was\t time\t to\t go.\t We\t were\t like,\t \u201cPlease, please,\tplease\tcan\twe\thave\ta\tsleepover?\u201d\tSo\tour\tparents\tsaid\tyes,\tand\tMom\tand\tDad\tand\t\tVia drove\t home.\t And\t me\t and\t Christopher\t stayed\t up\t till\t midnight\t playing,\t until\t Lisa,\t his\t mom, said:\t \u201cOkay,\t guys,\t time\t to\t go\t to\t bed.\u201d\t Well,\t that\u2019s\t when\t I\t kind\t of\t panicked\t a\t bit.\t Lisa\t tried\t to help\t me\t go\t to\t sleep,\t but\t I\t just\t started\t crying\t that\t I\t wanted\t to\t go\t home.\t So\t at\t one\t a.m.\t Lisa called\t Mom\t and\t Dad,\t and\t Dad\t drove\t all\t the\t way\t back\t out\t to\t Bridgeport\t to\t pick\t me\t up.\t We didn\u2019t\tget\thome\tuntil\tthree\ta.m.\tSo\tmy\tone\tand\tonly\tsleepover,\tup\tuntil\tnow,\twas\tpretty\tmuch of\ta\tdisaster,\twhich\tis\twhy\tI\u2019m\ta\tlittle\tnervous\tabout\tthe\tnature\tretreat. On\tthe\tother\thand,\tI\u2019m\treally\texcited.","Known\tFor I\tasked\tMom\tto\tbuy\tme\ta\tnew\trolling\tduffel\tbag\tbecause\tmy\told\tone\thad\tStar\tWars\tstuff\ton\tit, and\tthere\twas\tno\tway\tI\twas\tgoing\tto\ttake\tthat\tto\tthe\tfifth-grade\tnature\tretreat.\tAs\tmuch\tas\tI love\tStar\tWars,\tI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tthat\tto\tbe\twhat\tI\u2019m\tknown\tfor.\tEveryone\u2019s\tknown\tfor\tsomething\tin middle\tschool.\tLike\tReid\tis\tknown\tfor\treally\tbeing\tinto\tmarine\tlife\tand\tthe\toceans\tand\tthings like\tthat.\tAnd\tAmos\tis\tknown\tfor\tbeing\ta\treally\tgood\tbaseball\tplayer.\tAnd\tCharlotte\tis\tknown for\t having\t been\t in\t a\t TV\t commercial\t when\t she\t was\t six.\t And\t Ximena\u2019s\t known\t for\t being\t really smart. My\tpoint\tis\tthat\tin\tmiddle\tschool\tyou\tkind\tof\tget\tknown\tfor\twhat\tyou\u2019re\tinto,\tand\tyou\thave\tto be\tcareful\tabout\tstuff\tlike\tthat.\tLike\tMax\tG\tand\tMax\tW\twill\tnever\tlive\tdown\ttheir\tDungeons\t& Dragons\tobsession. So\tI\twas\tactually\ttrying\tto\tease\tout\tof\tthe\twhole\tStar\tWars\tthing\ta\tbit.\tI\tmean,\tit\u2019ll\talways\tbe special\t to\t me,\t like\t it\t is\t with\t the\t doctor\t who\t put\t in\t my\t hearing\t aids.\t It\u2019s\t just\t not\t the\t thing\t I wanted\t to\t be\t known\t for\t in\t middle\t school.\t I\u2019m\t not\t sure\t what\t I\t want\t to\t be\t known\t for,\t but\t it\u2019s not\tthat. That\u2019s\t not\t exactly\t true:\t I\t do\t know\t what\t I\u2019m\t really\t known\t for.\t But\t there\u2019s\t nothing\t I\t can\t do about\tthat.\tA\tStar\tWars\tduffel\tbag\tI\tcould\tdo\tsomething\tabout.","Packing Mom\thelped\tme\tpack\tthe\tnight\tbefore\tthe\tbig\ttrip.\tWe\tput\tall\tthe\tclothes\tI\twas\ttaking\ton\tmy bed,\tand\tshe\tfolded\teverything\tneatly\tand\tput\tit\tinside\tthe\tbag\twhile\tI\twatched.\tIt\twas\ta\tplain blue\trolling\tduffel,\tby\tthe\tway:\tno\tlogos\tor\tartwork. \u201cWhat\tif\tI\tcan\u2019t\tsleep\tat\tnight?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cTake\ta\tbook\twith\tyou.\tThen\tif\tyou\tcan\u2019t\tsleep,\tyou\tcan\tpull\tout\tyour\tflashlight,\tand\tread\tfor\ta bit\tuntil\tyou\tget\tsleepy,\u201d\tshe\tanswered. I\tnodded.\t\u201cWhat\tif\tI\thave\ta\tnightmare?\u201d \u201cYour\tteachers\twill\tbe\tthere,\tsweetie,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cAnd\tJack.\tAnd\tyour\tfriends.\u201d \u201cI\t can\t bring\t Baboo,\u201d\t I\t said.\t That\t was\t my\t favorite\t stuffed\t animal\t when\t I\t was\t little.\t A\t small black\tbear\twith\ta\tsoft\tblack\tnose. \u201cYou\tdon\u2019t\treally\tsleep\twith\thim\tanymore,\tdo\tyou?\u201d\tsaid\tMom. \u201cNo,\t but\t I\t keep\t him\t in\t my\t closet\t in\t case\t I\t wake\t up\t in\t the\t middle\t of\t the\t night\t and\t can\u2019t\t get back\tto\tsleep,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tcould\thide\thim\tin\tmy\tbag.\tNo\tone\twould\tknow.\u201d \u201cThen\tlet\u2019s\tdo\tthat.\u201d\tMom\tnodded,\tgetting\tBaboo\tfrom\tinside\tmy\tcloset. \u201cI\twish\tthey\tallowed\tcell\tphones,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cI\t know,\t me\t too!\u201d\t she\t said.\t \u201cThough\t I\t know\t you\u2019re\t going\t to\t have\t a\t great\t time,\t Auggie.\t You sure\tyou\twant\tme\tto\tpack\tBaboo?\u201d \u201cYeah,\tbut\tway\tdown\twhere\tno\tone\tcan\tsee\thim,\u201d\tI\tsaid. She\tstuck\tBaboo\tdeep\tinside\tthe\tbag\tand\tthen\tstuffed\tthe\tlast\tof\tmy\tT-shirts\ton\ttop\tof\thim.\t\u201cSo many\tclothes\tfor\tjust\ttwo\tdays!\u201d \u201cThree\tdays\tand\ttwo\tnights,\u201d\tI\tcorrected\ther. \u201cYep.\u201d\t She\t nodded,\t smiling.\t \u201cThree\t days\t and\t two\t nights.\u201d\t She\t zipped\t up\t the\t duffel\t bag\t and picked\tit\tup.\t\u201cNot\ttoo\theavy.\tTry\tit.\u201d I\tpicked\tup\tthe\tbag.\t\u201cFine.\u201d\tI\tshrugged. She\tsat\ton\tthe\tbed.\t\u201cHey,\twhat\thappened\tto\tyour\tEmpire\tStrikes\tBack\tposter?\u201d \u201cOh,\tI\ttook\tthat\tdown\tages\tago,\u201d\tI\tanswered. She\tshook\ther\thead.\t\u201cHuh,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tnotice\tthat\tbefore.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\ttrying\tto,\tyou\tknow,\tchange\tmy\timage\ta\tbit,\u201d\tI\texplained. \u201cOkay.\u201d\tShe\tsmiled,\tnodding\tlike\tshe\tunderstood.\t\u201cAnyway,\thoney,\tyou\thave\tto\tpromise\tme\tyou won\u2019t\tforget\tto\tput\ton\tthe\tbug\tspray,\tokay?\tOn\tthe\tlegs,\tespecially\twhen\tyou\u2019re\thiking\tthrough the\twoods.\tIt\u2019s\tright\there\tin\tthe\tfront\tcompartment.\u201d \u201cUh-huh.\u201d \u201cAnd\tput\ton\tyour\tsunscreen,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cYou\tdo\tnot\twant\tto\tget\ta\tsunburn.\tAnd\tdon\u2019t,\tI\trepeat, do\tnot\tforget\tto\ttake\tyour\thearing\taids\toff\tif\tyou\tgo\tswimming.\u201d \u201cWould\tI\tget\telectrocuted?\u201d \u201cNo,\t but\t you\u2019d\t be\t in\t real\t hot\t water\t with\t Daddy\t because\t those\t things\t cost\t a\t fortune!\u201d\t she laughed.\t \u201cI\t put\t the\t rain\t poncho\t in\t the\t front\t compartment,\t too.\t Same\t thing\t goes\t if\t it\t rains, Auggie,\tokay?\tMake\tsure\tyou\tcover\tthe\thearing\taids\twith\tthe\thood.\u201d \u201cAye,\taye,\tsir,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tsaluting.","She\tsmiled\tand\tpulled\tme\tover. \u201cI\t can\u2019t\t believe\t how\t much\t you\u2019ve\t grown\t up\t this\t year,\t Auggie,\u201d\t she\t said\t softly,\t putting\t her hands\ton\tthe\tsides\tof\tmy\tface. \t \u201cDo\tI\tlook\ttaller?\u201d \u201cDefinitely.\u201d\tShe\tnodded. \u201cI\u2019m\tstill\tthe\tshortest\tone\tin\tmy\tgrade.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tnot\treally\teven\ttalking\tabout\tyour\theight,\u201d\tshe\tsaid. \u201cSuppose\tI\thate\tit\tthere?\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\thave\ta\tgreat\ttime,\tAuggie.\u201d I\tnodded.\tShe\tgot\tup\tand\tgave\tme\ta\tquick\tkiss\ton\tthe\tforehead.\t\u201cOkay,\tso\tI\tsay\twe\tget\tto\tbed now.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tonly\tnine\to\u2019clock,\tMom!\u201d \u201cYour\t bus\t leaves\t at\t six\t a.m.\t tomorrow.\t You\t don\u2019t\t want\t to\t be\t late.\t Come\t on.\t Chop\t chop.\t Your teeth\tare\tbrushed?\u201d I\tnodded\tand\tclimbed\tinto\tbed.\tShe\tstarted\tto\tlie\tdown\tnext\tto\tme. \u201cYou\tdon\u2019t\tneed\tto\tput\tme\tto\tbed\ttonight,\tMom,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cI\u2019ll\tread\ton\tmy\town\ttill\tI\tget\tsleepy.\u201d \u201cReally?\u201d\t She\t nodded,\t impressed.\t She\t squeezed\t my\t hand\t and\t gave\t it\t a\t kiss.\t \u201cOkay\t then, goodnight,\tlove.\tHave\tsweet\tdreams.\u201d \u201cYou\ttoo.\u201d She\tturned\ton\tthe\tlittle\treading\tlight\tbeside\tthe\tbed. \u201cI\u2019ll\t write\t you\t letters,\u201d\t I\t said\t as\t she\t was\t \t leaving.\t \u201cEven\t though\t I\u2019ll\t probably\t be\t home\t before you\tguys\teven\tget\tthem.\u201d \u201cThen\twe\tcan\tread\tthem\ttogether,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tand\tthrew\tme\ta\tkiss. When\tshe\tleft\tmy\troom,\tI\ttook\tmy\tcopy\tof\tThe\tLion,\tthe\tWitch\tand\tthe\tWardrobe\toff\tthe\tnight table\tand\tstarted\treading\tuntil\tI\tfell\tasleep. \t\u2026\tthough\tthe\tWitch\tknew\tthe\tDeep\tMagic,\tthere\tis\ta\tmagic\tdeeper\tstill\twhich\tshe did\t not\t know.\t Her\t knowledge\t goes\t back\t only\t to\t the\t dawn\t of\t time.\t But\t if\t she\t could have\t looked\t a\t little\t further\t back,\t into\t the\t stillness\t and\t the\t darkness\t before\t Time dawned,\tshe\twould\thave\tread\tthere\ta\tdifferent\tincantation.","Daybreak The\tnext\tday\tI\twoke\tup\treally\tearly.\tIt\twas\tstill\tdark\tinside\tmy\troom\tand\teven\tdarker\toutside, though\tI\tknew\tit\twould\tbe\tmorning\tsoon.\tI\tturned\tover\ton\tmy\tside\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\tfeel\tat\tall\tsleepy. That\u2019s\twhen\tI\tsaw\tDaisy\tsitting\tnear\tmy\tbed.\tI\tmean,\tI\tknew\tit\twasn\u2019t\tDaisy,\tbut\tfor\ta\tsecond\tI saw\t a\t shadow\t that\t looked\t just\t like\t her.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t think\t it\t was\t a\t dream\t then,\t but\t now,\t looking back,\t I\t know\t it\t must\t have\t been.\t It\t didn\u2019t\t make\t me\t sad\t to\t see\t her\t at\t all:\t it\t just\t filled\t me\t up with\t nice\t feelings\t inside.\t She\t was\t gone\t after\t a\t second,\t and\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t see\t her\t again\t in\t the darkness. The\troom\tslowly\tstarted\tlightening.\tI\treached\tfor\tmy\thearing\taid\theadband\tand\tput\tit\ton,\tand now\t the\t world\t was\t really\t awake.\t I\t could\t hear\t the\t garbage\t trucks\t clunking\t down\t the\t street and\t the\t birds\t in\t our\t backyard.\t And\t down\t the\t hallway\t I\t heard\t Mom\u2019s\t alarm\t beeping.\t Daisy\u2019s ghost\tmade\tme\tfeel\tsuper\tstrong\tinside,\tknowing\twherever\tI\tam,\tshe\u2019d\tbe\tthere\twith\tme. I\tgot\tup\tout\tof\tbed\tand\twent\tto\tmy\tdesk\tand\twrote\ta\tlittle\tnote\tto\tMom.\tThen\tI\twent\tinto\tthe living\t room,\t where\t my\t packed\t bag\t was\t by\t the\t door.\t I\t opened\t it\t up\t and\t fished\t inside\t until\t I found\twhat\tI\twas\tlooking\tfor. I\t took\t Baboo\t back\t to\t my\t room,\t and\t I\t laid\t him\t in\t my\t bed\t and\t taped\t the\t little\t note\t to\t Mom\t on his\t chest.\t And\t then\t I\t covered\t him\t with\t my\t blanket\t so\t Mom\t would\t find\t him\t later.\t The\t note read: Dear\t Mom,\t I\t won\u2019t\t need\t Baboo,\t but\t if\t you\t miss\t me,\t you\t can\t \t cuddle\t with\t him\t yourself.\t XO Auggie","Day\tOne The\t bus\t ride\t went\t really\t fast.\t I\t sat\t by\t the\t window\t and\t Jack\t was\t next\t to\t me\t in\t the\t aisle\t seat. Summer\tand\tMaya\twere\tin\tfront\tof\tus.\tEveryone\twas\tin\ta\tgood\tmood.\tKind\tof\tloud,\tla\tughing a\tlot.\tI\tnoticed\tright\taway\tthat\tJulian\twasn\u2019t\ton\tour\tbus,\teven\tthough\tHenry\tand\tMiles\twere.\tI figured\the\tmust\tbe\ton\tthe\tother\tbus,\tbut\tthen\tI\toverheard\tMiles\ttell\tAmos\tthat\tJulian\tditched the\tgrade\ttrip\tbecause\the\tthought\tthe\twhole\tnature-retreat\tthing\twas,\tquote\tunquote,\tdorky.\tI got\ttotally\tpumped\tbecause\tdealing\twith\tJulian\tfor\tthree\tdays\tin\ta\trow\u2014and\ttwo\tnights\u2014was a\t major\t reason\t that\t I\t was\t nervous\t about\t this\t whole\t trip.\t So\t now\t without\t him\t there,\t I\t could really\tjust\trelax\tand\tnot\tworry\tabout\tanything. We\tgot\tto\tthe\tnature\treserve\tat\taround\tnoon.\tThe\tfirst\tthing\twe\tdid\twas\tput\tour\tstuff\tdown\tin the\t cabins.\t There\t were\t three\t bunk\t beds\t to\t every\t room,\t so\t me\t and\t Jack\t did\t rock,\t paper, scissors\tfor\tthe\ttop\tbunk\tand\tI\twon.\tWoo-hoo.\tAnd\tthe\tother\tguys\tin\tthe\troom\twere\tReid\tand Tristan,\tand\tPablo\tand\tNino. After\t we\t had\t lunch\t in\t the\t main\t cabin,\t we\t all\t went\t on\t a\t two-hour\t guided\t nature\t hike\t through the\twoods.\tBut\tthese\twere\tnot\twoods\tlike\tthe\tkind\tthey\thave\tin\tCentral\tPark:\tthese\twere\treal woods.\t Giant\t trees\t that\t almost\t totally\t blocked\t out\t the\t sunlight.\t Tangles\t of\t leaves\t and\t fallen tree\ttrunks.\tHowls\tand\tchirps\tand\treally\tloud\tbird\tcalls.\tThere\twas\ta\tslight\tfog,\ttoo,\tlike\ta\tpale blue\tsmoke\tall\taround\tus.\tSo\tcool.\tThe\tnature\tguide\tpointed\teverything\tout\tto\tus:\tthe\tdifferent types\tof\ttrees\twe\twere\tpassing,\tthe\tinsects\tinside\tthe\tdead\tlogs\ton\tthe\ttrail,\tthe\tsigns\tof\tdeer and\t bears\t in\t the\t woods,\t what\t types\t of\t birds\t were\t whistling\t and\t where\t to\t look\t for\t them.\t I realized\tthat\tmy\tLobot\thearing\taids\tactually\tmade\tme\thear\tbetter\tthan\tmost\tpeople,\tbecause\tI was\tusually\tthe\tfirst\tperson\tto\thear\ta\tnew\tbird\tcall. It\tstarted\tto\train\tas\twe\theaded\tback\tto\tcamp.\tI\tpulled\ton\tmy\train\tponcho\tand\tpulled\tthe\thood up\t so\t my\t hearing\t aids\t wouldn\u2019t\t get\t wet,\t but\t my\t jeans\t and\t shoes\t got\t soaked\t by\t the\t time\t we reached\t our\t cabins.\t Everyone\t got\t soaked.\t It\t was\t fun,\t though.\t We\t had\t a\t wet-sock\t fight\t in\t the cabin. Since\t it\t rained\t for\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t day,\t we\t spent\t most\t of\t the\t afternoon\t goofing\t off\t in\t the\t rec room.\t They\t had\t a\t Ping-Pong\t table\t and\t old-style\t arcade\t games\t like\t Pac-Man\t and\t Missile Command\tthat\twe\tplayed\tuntil\tdinnertime.\tLuckily,\tby\tthen\tit\thad\tstopped\training,\tso\twe\tgot to\thave\ta\treal\tcampfire\tcookout.\tThe\tlog\tbenches\taround\tthe\tcampfire\twe\tre\tstill\ta\tlittle\tdamp, but\twe\tthrew\tour\tjackets\tover\tthem\tand\thung\tout\tby\tthe\tfire,\ttoasting\ts\u2019mores\tand\teating\tthe best\t roasted\t hot\t dogs\t I\t have\t ever,\t ever\t tasted.\t Mom\t was\t right\t about\t the\t mosquitoes:\t there were\ttons\tof\tthem.\tBut\tluckily\tI\thad\tspritzed\tmyself\tbefore\tI\tleft\tthe\tcabin,\tand\tI\twasn\u2019t\teaten alive\tlike\tsome\tof\tthe\tother\tkids\twere. I\tloved\thanging\tout\tby\tthe\tcampfire\tafter\tdark.\tI\tloved\tthe\tway\tbits\tof\tfire\tdust\twould\tfloat\tup and\t disappear\t into\t the\t night\t air.\t And\t how\t the\t fire\t lit\t up\t people\u2019s\t faces.\t I\t loved\t the\t sound\t the fire\t made,\t too.\t And\t how\t the\t woods\t were\t so\t dark\t that\t you\t couldn\u2019t\t see\t anything\t around\t you, and\t you\u2019d\t look\t up\t and\t see\t a\t billion\t stars\t in\t the\t sky.\t The\t sky\t doesn\u2019t\t look\t like\t that\t in\t North River\tHeights.\tI\u2019ve\tseen\tit\tlook\tlike\tthat\tin\tMontauk,\tthough:\tlike\tsomeone\tsprinkled\tsalt\ton\ta shiny\tblack\ttable. I\twas\tso\ttired\twhen\tI\tgot\tback\tto\tthe\tcabin\tthat\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tneed\tto\tpull\tout\tthe\tbook\tto\tread.\tI\tfell asleep\talmost\tas\tfast\tas\tmy\thead\thit\tthe\tpillow.\tAnd\tmaybe\tI\tdreamed\tabout\tthe\tstars,\tI\tdon\u2019t know.","The\tFairgrounds The\tnext\tday\twas\tjust\tas\tgreat\tas\tthe\tfirst\tday.\tWe\twent\thorseback\triding\tin\tthe\tmorning,\tand in\tthe\tafternoon\twe\trappelled\tup\tsome\tginormous\ttrees\twith\tthe\thelp\tof\tthe\tnature\tguides.\tBy the\ttime\twe\tgot\tback\tto\tthe\tcabins\tfor\tdinner,\twe\twere\tall\treally\ttired\tagain.\tAfter\tdinner\tthey tol\t d\t us\t we\t had\t an\t hour\t to\t rest,\t and\t then\t we\t were\t going\t to\t take\t a\t fifteen-minute\t bus\t ride\t to the\tfairgrounds\tfor\tan\toutdoor\tmovie\tnight. I\t hadn\u2019t\t had\t the\t chance\t to\t write\t a\t letter\t to\t Mom\t and\t Dad\t and\t Via\t yet,\t so\t I\t wrote\t one\t telling them\t all\t about\t the\t stuff\t we\t did\t that\t day\t and\t the\t day\t before.\t I\t pictured\t myself\t reading\t it\t to them\tout\tloud\twhen\tI\tgot\tback,\tsince\tthere\twas\tjust\tno\tway\tthe\tletter\twould\tget\thome\tbefore\tI did. When\t we\t got\t to\t the\t fairgrounds,\t the\t sun\t was\t just\t starting\t to\t set.\t It\t was\t about\t seven-thirty. The\t shadows\t were\t really\t long\t on\t the\t grass,\t and\t the\t clouds\t were\t pink\t and\t orange.\t It\t looked like\t someone\t had\t taken\t sidewalk\t chalk\t and\t smudged\t the\t colors\t across\t the\t sky\t with\t their fingers.\t It\u2019s\t not\t that\t I\t haven\u2019t\t seen\t nice\t sunsets\t before\t in\t the\t city,\t because\t I\t have\u2014slivers\t of sunsets\t between\t buildings\u2014but\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t used\t to\t seeing\t so\t much\t sky\t in\t every\t direction.\t Out here\t in\t the\t fairgrounds,\t I\t could\t understand\t why\t ancient\t people\t used\t to\t think\t the\t world\t was flat\t and\t the\t sky\t was\t a\t dome\t that\t closed\t in\t on\t top\t of\t it.\t That\u2019s\t what\t it\t looked\t like\t from\t the fairgrounds,\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthis\thuge\topen\tfield. Because\twe\twere\tthe\tfirst\tschool\tto\tarrive,\twe\tgot\tto\trun\taround\tthe\tfield\tall\twe\twanted\tuntil the\t teachers\t told\t us\t it\t was\t time\t to\t lay\t out\t our\t sleeping\t bags\t on\t the\t ground\t and\t get\t good viewing\tseats.\tWe\tunzipped\tour\tbags\tand\tlaid\tthem\tdown\tlike\tpicnic\tblankets\ton\tthe\tgrass\tin front\t of\t the\t giant\t movie\t screen\t in\t the\t middle\t of\t the\t field.\t Then\t we\t went\t to\t the\t row\t of\t food trucks\tparked\tat\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tfield\tto\tload\tup\ton\tsnacks\tand\tsodas\tand\tstuff\tlike\tthat.\tThere were\t concession\t stands\t there,\t too,\t like\t at\t a\t farmers\u2019\t market,\t selling\t roasted\t peanuts\t and cotton\tcandy.\tAnd\tup\ta\tlittle\tfarther\twas\ta\tshort\trow\tof\tcarnival-type\tstalls,\tthe\tkind\twhere\tyou can\t win\t a\t stuffed\t animal\t if\t you\t throw\t a\t baseball\t into\t a\t basket.\t Jack\t and\t I\t both\t tried\u2014and failed\u2014to\t win\t anything,\t but\t we\t heard\t Amos\t won\t a\t yellow\t hippo\t and\t gave\t it\t to\t Ximena.\t That was\tthe\tbig\tgossip\tthat\twent\taround:\tthe\tjock\tand\tthe\tbrainiac. From\tthe\tfood\ttrucks,\tyou\tcould\tsee\tthe\tcornstalks\tin\tback\tof\tthe\tmovie\tscreen.\tThey\tcovered about\ta\tthird\tof\tthe\tentire\tfield.\tThe\trest\tof\tthe\tfield\twas\tcompletely\tsurrounded\tby\twoods.\tAs the\tsun\tsank\tlower\tin\tthe\tsky,\tthe\ttall\ttrees\tat\tthe\tentrance\tto\tthe\twoods\tlooked\tdark\tblue. By\tthe\ttime\tthe\tother\tschool\tbuses\tpulled\tinto\tthe\tparking\tlots,\twe\twere\tback\tin\tour\tspots\ton the\t sleeping\t bags,\t right\t smack\t in\t front\t of\t the\t screen:\t the\t best\t seats\t in\t the\t whole\t field. Everyone\twas\tpassing\taround\tsnacks\tand\thaving\ta\tgreat\ttime.\tMe\tand\tJack\tand\tSummer\tand Reid\tand\tMaya\tplayed\tPictionary.\tWe\tcould\thear\tthe\tsounds\tof\tthe\tother\tschools\tarriving,\tthe loud\tlaughing\tand\ttalking\tof\tkids\tcoming\tout\ton\tthe\tfield\ton\tboth\tsides\tof\tus,\tbut\twe\tcouldn\u2019t really\t see\t them.\t Though\t the\t sky\t was\t still\t light,\t the\t sun\t had\t gone\t down\t completely,\t and everything\t on\t the\t ground\t had\t turned\t deep\t purple.\t The\t clouds\t were\t shadows\t now.\t We\t had trouble\teven\tseeing\tthe\tPictionary\tcards\tin\tfront\tof\tus. Just\t then,\t without\t any\t announcement,\t all\t the\t lights\t at\t the\t ends\t of\t the\t field\t went\t on\t at\t once. They\twere\tlike\tbig\tbright\tstadium\tlights.\tI\tthought\tof\tthat\tscene\tin\tClose\tEncounters\twhen\tthe alien\t ship\t lands\t and\t they\u2019re\t playing\t that\t music:\t duh-dah-doo-da-dunnn.\t Everyone\t in\t the\t field started\tapplauding\tand\tcheering\tlike\tsomething\tgreat\thad\tjust\thappened.","Be\tKind\tto\tNature An\tannouncement\tcame\tover\tthe\thuge\tspeakers\tnext\tto\tthe\tstadium\tlights: \u201cWelcome,\t everyone.\t Welcome\t to\t the\t twenty-third\t annual\t Big\t Movie\t Night\t at\t the\t Broarwood Nature\tReserve.\tWelcome,\tteachers\tand\tstudents\tfrom\t\u2026\tMS\t342:\tthe\tWilliam\tHeath\tSchool. \u2026\u201d\t A\t big\t cheer\t went\t up\t on\t the\t left\t side\t of\t the\t field.\t \u201cWelcome,\t teachers\t and\t students\t from Glover\t Academy.\u2026\u201d\t Another\t cheer\t went\t up,\t this\t time\t from\t the\t right\t side\t of\t the\t field.\t \u201cAnd welcome,\tteachers\tand\tstudents\tfrom\t\u2026\tthe\tBeecher\tPrep\tSchool!\u201d\tOur\twhole\tgroup\tcheered as\tloudly\tas\twe\tcould.\t\u201cWe\u2019re\tthrilled\tto\thave\tyou\tas\tour\tguests\there\ttonight,\tand\tthrilled\tthat the\t weather\t is\t cooperating\u2014in\t fact,\t can\t you\t believe\t what\t a\t beautiful\t night\t this\t is?\u201d\t Again, everyone\twhooped\tand\thollered.\t\u201cSo\tas\twe\tprepare\tthe\tmovie,\twe\tdo\task\tthat\tyou\ttake\ta\tfew moments\t to\t listen\t to\t this\t important\t announcement.\t The\t Broarwood\t Nature\t Reserve,\t as\t you know,\tis\tdedicated\tto\tpreserving\tour\tnatural\tresources\tand\tthe\tenvironment.\tWe\task\tthat\tyou leave\tno\tlitter\tbehind.\tClean\tup\tafter\tyourselves.\tBe\tkind\tto\tnature\tand\tit\twill\tbe\tkind\tto\tyou. We\task\tthat\tyou\tkeep\tthat\tin\tmind\tas\tyou\twalk\taround\tthe\tgrounds.\tDo\tnot\tventure\tbeyond\tthe orange\t cones\t at\t the\t edges\t of\t the\t fairgrounds.\t Do\t not\t go\t into\t the\t cornfields\t or\t the\t woods. Please\t keep\t the\t free\t roaming\t to\t a\t minimum.\t Even\t if\t you\t don\u2019t\t feel\t like\t watching\t the\t movie, your\tfellow\tstudents\tmay\tfeel\totherwise,\tso\tplease\tbe\tcourteous:\tno\ttalking,\tno\tplaying\tmusic, no\t running\t around.\t The\t restrooms\t are\t located\t on\t the\t other\t side\t of\t the\t concession\t stands. After\tthe\tmovie\tis\tover,\tit\twill\tbe\tquite\tdark,\tso\twe\task\tthat\tall\tof\tyou\tstay\twith\tyour\tschools\tas you\tmake\tyour\tway\tback\tto\tyour\tbuses.\tTeachers,\tthere\u2019s\tusually\tat\tleast\tone\tlost\tparty\ton\tBig Movie\t Nights\t at\t Broarwood:\t don\u2019t\t let\t it\t happen\t to\t you!\t Tonight\u2019s\t movie\t presentation\t will be\t\u2026\tThe\tSound\tof\tMusic!\u201d I\t immediately\t started\t clapping,\t even\t though\t I\u2019d\t seen\t it\t a\t few\t times\t before,\t because\t it\t was Via\u2019s\t favorite\t movie\t of\t all\t time.\t But\t I\t was\t surprised\t that\t a\t whole\t bunch\t of\t kids\t (not\t from Beecher)\tbooed\tand\thissed\tand\tlaughed.\tSomeone\tfrom\tthe\tright\tside\tof\tthe\tfield\teven\tthrew a\tsoda\tcan\tat\tthe\tscreen,\twhich\tseemed\tto\tsurprise\tMr.\tTushman.\tI\tsaw\thim\tstand\tup\tand\tlook in\tthe\tdirection\tof\tthe\tcan\tthrower,\tthough\tI\tknew\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\tanything\tin\tthe\tdark. The\t movie\t started\t playing\t right\t away.\t The\t stadium\t lights\t dimmed.\t Maria\t the\t nun\t was standing\t at\t the\t top\t of\t the\t mountain\t twirling\t around\t and\t around.\t It\t had\t gotten\t chilly\t all\t of\t a sudden,\t so\t I\t put\t on\t my\t yellow\t Montauk\t hoodie\t and\t adjusted\t the\t volume\t on\t my\t hearing\t aids and\tleaned\tagainst\tmy\tbackpack\tand\tstarted\twatching. The\thills\tare\talive\t\u2026","The\tWoods\tAre\tAlive Somewhere\t around\t the\t boring\t part\t where\t the\t guy\t named\t Rolf\t and\t the\t oldest\t daughter\t are singing\tYou\tare\tsixteen,\tgoing\ton\tseventeen,\tJack\tnudged\tme. \u201cDude,\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tto\tpee,\u201d\the\tsaid. We\tboth\tgot\tup\tand\tkind\tof\thopscotched\tover\tthe\tkids\twho\twere\tsitting\tor\tlying\tdown\ton\tthe sleeping\tbags.\tSummer\twaved\tas\twe\tpassed\tand\tI\twaved\tback. There\twere\tlots\tof\tkids\tfrom\tthe\tother\tschools\twalking\taround\tby\tthe\tfood\ttrucks,\tplaying\tthe carnival\tgames,\tor\tjust\thanging\tout. Of\tcourse,\tthere\twas\ta\thuge\tline\tfor\tthe\ttoilets. \u201cForget\tthis,\tI\u2019ll\tjust\tfind\ta\ttree,\u201d\tsaid\tJack. \u201cThat\u2019s\tgross,\tJack.\tLet\u2019s\tjust\twait,\u201d\tI\tanswered. But\the\theaded\toff\tto\tthe\trow\tof\ttrees\tat\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tfield,\twhich\twas\tpast\tthe\torange\tcones that\t we\t were\t specifically\t told\t not\t to\t go\t past.\t And\t of\t course\t I\t followed\t him.\t And\t of\t course\t we didn\u2019t\t have\t our\t flashlights\t because\t we\t forgot\t to\t bring\t them.\t It\t was\t so\t dark\t now\t we\t literally couldn\u2019t\tsee\tten\tsteps\tahead\tof\tus\tas\twe\twalked\ttoward\tthe\twoods.\tLuckily,\tthe\tmovie\tgave\toff some\t light,\t so\t when\t we\t saw\t a\t flashlight\t coming\t toward\t us\t out\t of\t the\t woods,\t we\t knew immediately\tthat\tit\twas\tHenry,\tMiles,\tand\tAmos.\tI\tguess\tthey\thadn\u2019t\twanted\tto\twait\ton\tline\tto use\tthe\ttoilets,\teither. Miles\t and\t Henry\t were\t still\t not\t talking\t to\t Jack,\t but\t Amos\t had\t let\t go\t of\t the\t war\t a\t \twhile\t ago. And\the\tnodded\thello\tto\tus\tas\tthey\tpassed\tby. \u201cBe\tcareful\tof\tthe\tbears!\u201d\tshouted\tHenry,\tand\the\tand\tMiles\tlaughed\tas\tthey\twalked\taway. Amos\tshook\this\thead\tat\tus\tlike,\tDon\u2019t\tpay\tattention\tto\tthem. Jack\t and\t I\t walked\t a\t little\t farther\t until\t we\t were\t just\t inside\t the\t woods.\t Then\t Jack\t hunted around\t for\t the\t perfect\t tree\t and\t finally\t did\t his\t business,\t though\t it\t felt\t like\t he\t was\t taking forever. The\twoods\twere\tloud\twith\tstrange\tsounds\tand\tchirps\tand\tcroaks,\tlike\ta\twall\tof\tnoise\tcoming out\tof\tthe\ttrees.\tThen\twe\tstarted\thearing\tloud\tsnaps\tnot\tfar\tfrom\tus,\talmost\tlike\tcap\tgun\tpops, that\t definitely\t weren\u2019t\t insect\t noises.\t And\t far\t away,\t like\t in\t another\t world,\t we\t could\t hear Raindrops\ton\troses\tand\twhiskers\ton\tkittens. \u201cAh,\tthat\u2019s\tmuch\tbetter,\u201d\tsaid\tJack,\tzipping\tup. \u201cNow\tI\thave\tto\tpee,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\twhich\tI\tdid\ton\tthe\tnearest\ttree.\tNo\tway\tI\twas\tgoing\tfarther\tin\tlike Jack\tdid. \u201cDo\tyou\tsmell\tthat?\tLike\tfirecrackers,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tcoming\tover\tto\tme. \u201cOh\tyeah,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tthat\tis,\u201d\tI\tanswered,\tzipping\tup.\t\u201cWeird.\u201d \u201cLet\u2019s\tgo.\u201d","Alien We\t headed\t back\t the\t way\t we\t came,\t in\t the\t direction\t of\t the\t giant\t screen.\t That\u2019s\t when\t we walked\tstraight\tinto\ta\tgroup\tof\tkids\twe\tdidn\u2019t\tknow.\tThey\u2019d\tjust\tcome\tout\tof\tthe\twoods,\tdoing stuff\tI\u2019m\tsure\tthey\tdidn\u2019t\twant\ttheir\tteachers\tto\tknow\tabout.\tI\tcould\tsmell\tthe\tsmoke\tnow,\tthe smell\t of\t both\t firecrackers\t and\t cigarettes.\t They\t pointed\t a\t flashlight\t at\t us.\t There\t were\t six\t of them:\tfour\tboys\tand\ttwo\tgirls.\tThey\tlooked\tlike\tthey\twere\tin\tthe\tseventh\tgrade. \u201cWhat\tschool\tare\tyou\tfrom?\u201d\tone\tof\tthe\tboys\tcalled\tout. \u201cBeecher\t Prep!\u201d\t Jack\t started\t to\t answer,\t when\t all\t of\t a\t sudden\t one\t of\t the\t girls\t started screaming. \u201cOh\t my\t God!\u201d\t she\t shrieked,\t holding\t her\t hand\t over\t her\t eyes\t like\t she\t was\t crying.\t I\t figured maybe\ta\thuge\tbug\thad\tjust\tflown\tinto\ther\tface\tor\tsomething. \u201cNo\t way!\u201d\t one\t of\t the\t boys\t cried\t out,\t and\t he\t started\t flicking\t his\t hand\t in\t the\t air\t like\t he\u2019d\t just touched\t something\t hot.\t And\t then\t he\t covered\t his\t mouth.\t \u201cNo\t freakin\u2019\t way,\t man!\t No\t freakin\u2019 way!\u201d All\t of\t them\t started\t half\t laughing\t and\t half\t covering\t their\t eyes\t now,\t pushing\t each\t other\t and cursing\tloudly. \u201cWhat\tis\tthat?\u201d\tsaid\tthe\tkid\twho\twas\tpointing\tthe\tflashlight\tat\tus,\tand\tit\twas\tonly\tthen\tthat\tI realized\t that\t the\t flashlight\t was\t pointed\t right\t at\t my\t face,\t and\t what\t they\t were\t talking\t about\u2014 screaming\tabout\u2014was\tme. \u201cLet\u2019s\tget\tout\tof\there,\u201d\tJack\tsaid\tto\tme\tquietly,\tand\the\tpulled\tme\tby\tmy\tsweatshirt\tsleeve\tand started\twalking\taway\tfrom\tthem. \u201cWait\t wait\t wait!\u201d\t yelled\t the\t guy\t with\t the\t flashlight,\t cutting\t us\t off.\t He\t pointed\t the\t flashlight right\t in\t my\t face\t again,\t and\t now\t he\t was\t only\t about\t five\t feet\t away.\t \u201cOh\t man!\t Oh\t man!!\u201d\t he said,\tshaking\this\thead,\this\tmouth\twide\topen.\t\u201cWhat\thappened\tto\tyour\tface?\u201d \u201cStop\tit,\tEddie,\u201d\tsaid\tone\tof\tthe\tgirls. \u201cI\t didn\u2019t\t know\t we\t were\t watching\t Lord\t of\t the\t Rings\t tonight!\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cLook,\t guys,\t it\u2019s Gollum!\u201d This\tmade\this\tfriends\thysterica\tl. Again\twe\ttried\tto\twalk\taway\tfrom\tthem,\tand\tagain\tthe\tkid\tnamed\tEddie\tcut\tus\toff.\tHe\twas\tat least\ta\thead\ttaller\tthan\tJack,\twho\twas\tabout\ta\thead\ttaller\tthan\tme,\tso\tthe\tguy\tlooked\thuge\tto me. \u201cNo\tman,\tit\u2019s\tAlien!\u201d\tsaid\tone\tof\tthe\tother\tkids. \u201cNo,\t no,\t no,\t man.\t It\u2019s\t an\t orc!\u201d\t laughed\t Eddie,\t pointing\t the\t flashlight\t in\t my\t face\t again.\t This time\the\twas\tright\tin\tfront\tof\tus. \u201cLeave\thim\talone,\tokay?\u201d\tsaid\tJack,\tpushing\tthe\thand\tholding\tthe\tflashlight\taway. \u201cMake\tme,\u201d\tanswered\tEddie,\tpointing\tthe\tflashlight\tin\tJack\u2019s\tface\tnow. \u201cWhat\u2019s\tyour\tproblem,\tdude?\u201d\tsaid\tJack. \u201cYour\tboyfriend\u2019s\tmy\tproblem!\u201d \u201cJack,\tlet\u2019s\tjust\tgo,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tpulling\thim\tby\tthe\tarm. \u201cOh\t man,\t it\t talks!\u201d\t screamed\t Eddie,\t shining\t the\t flashlight\t in\t my\t face\t again.\t Then\t one\t of\t the other\tguys\tthrew\ta\tfirecracker\tat\tour\tfeet. Jack\t tried\t to\t push\t past\t Eddie,\t but\t Eddie\t shoved\t his\t hands\t into\t Jack\u2019s\t shoulders\t and\t pushed him\thard,\twhich\tmade\tJack\tfall\tbackward.","\u201cEddie!\u201d\tscreamed\tone\tof\tthe\tgirls. \u201cLook,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tstepping\tin\tfront\tof\tJack\tand\tholding\tmy\thands\tup\tin\tthe\tair\tlike\ta\ttraffic\tcop. \u201cWe\u2019re\ta\tlot\tsmaller\tthan\tyou\tguys\t\u2026\u201d \u201cAre\t you\t talking\t to\t me,\t Freddie\t Krueger?\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t you\t want\t to\t mess\t with\t me,\t you\t ugly freak,\u201d\tsaid\tEddie.\tAnd\tthis\twas\tthe\tpoint\twhere\tI\tknew\tI\tshould\trun\taway\tas\tfast\tas\tI\tcould, but\tJack\twas\tstill\ton\tthe\tground\tand\tI\twasn\u2019t\tabout\tto\tleave\thim. \u201cYo,\tdude,\u201d\tsaid\ta\tnew\tvoice\tbehind\tus.\t\u201cWhat\u2019s\tup,\tman?\u201d Eddie\t spun\t around\t and\t pointed\t his\t flashlight\t toward\t the\t voice.\t For\t a\t second,\t I\t couldn\u2019t believe\twho\tit\twas. \u201cLeave\tthem\talone,\tdude,\u201d\tsaid\tAmos,\twith\tMiles\tand\tHenry\tright\tbehind\thim. \u201cSays\twho?\u201d\tsaid\tone\tof\tthe\tguys\twith\tEddie. \u201cJust\tleave\tthem\talone,\tdude,\u201d\tAmos\trepeated\tcalmly. \u201cAre\tyou\ta\tfreak,\ttoo?\u201d\tsaid\tEddie. \u201cThey\u2019re\tall\ta\tbunch\tof\tfreaks!\u201d\tsaid\tone\tof\this\tfriends. Amos\t didn\u2019t\t answer\t them\t but\t looked\t at\t us.\t \u201cCome\t on,\t guys,\t let\u2019s\t go.\t Mr.\t Tushman\u2019s\t waiting for\tus.\u201d I\tknew\tthat\twas\ta\tlie,\tbut\tI\thelped\tJack\tget\tup,\tand\twe\tstarted\twalking\tover\tto\tAmos.\tThen\tout of\tthe\tblue,\tthe\tEddie\tguy\tgrabbed\tmy\thood\tas\tI\tpassed\tby\thim,\tyanking\tit\treally\thard\tso\tI\twas pulled\tbackward\tand\tfell\tflat\ton\tmy\tback.\tIt\twas\ta\thard\tfall,\tand\tI\thurt\tmy\telbow\tpretty\tbad\ton a\t rock.\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t really\t see\t what\t happened\t afterward,\t except\t that\t Amos\t rammed\t into\t the Eddie\tguy\tlike\ta\tmonster\ttruck\tand\tthey\tboth\tfell\tdown\tto\tthe\tground\tnext\tto\tme. Everything\tgot\treally\tcrazy\tafter\tthat.\tSomeone\tpulled\tme\tup\tby\tmy\tsleeve\tand\tyelled,\t\u201cRun!\u201d and\tsomeone\telse\tscreamed,\t\u201cGet\t\u2019em!\u201d\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime,\tand\tfor\ta\tfew\tseconds\tI\tactually\thad two\t people\t pulling\t the\t sleeves\t of\t my\t sweatshirt\t in\t opposite\t directions.\t I\t heard\t them\t both cursing,\tuntil\tmy\tsweatshirt\tripped\tand\tthe\tfirst\tguy\tyanked\tme\tby\tmy\tarm\tand\tstarted\tpulling me\tbehind\thim\tas\twe\tran,\twhich\tI\tdid\tas\tfast\tas\tI\tcould.\tI\tcould\thear\tfootsteps\tjust\tbehind\tus, chasing\t us,\t and\t voices\t shouting\t and\t girls\t screaming,\t but\t it\t was\t so\t dark\t I\t didn\u2019t\t know\t whose voices\t they\t were,\t only\t that\t everything\t felt\t like\t we\t were\t underwater.\t We\t were\t running\t like crazy,\tand\tit\twas\tpitch\tblack,\tand\tw\thenever\tI\tstarted\tto\tslow\tdown,\tthe\tguy\tpulling\tme\tby\tmy arm\twould\tyell,\t\u201cDon\u2019t\tstop!\u201d","Voices\tin\tthe\tDark Finally,\tafter\twhat\tseemed\tlike\ta\tforever\tof\trunning,\tsomeone\tyelled:\t\u201cI\tthink\twe\tlost\tthem!\u201d \u201cAmos?\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tright\there!\u201d\tsaid\tAmos\u2019s\tvoice\ta\tfew\tfeet\tbehind\tus. \u201cWe\tcan\tstop!\u201d\tMiles\tyelled\tfrom\tfarther\tup. \u201cJack!\u201d\tI\tyelled. \u201cWhoa!\u201d\tsaid\tJack.\t\u201cI\u2019m\there.\u201d \u201cI\tcan\u2019t\tsee\ta\tthing!\u201d \u201cAre\t you\t sure\t we\t lost\t them?\u201d\t Henry\t asked,\t letting\t go\t of\t my\t arm.\t That\u2019s\t when\t I\t realized\t that he\u2019d\tbeen\tthe\tone\twho\twas\tpulling\tme\tas\twe\tran. \u201cYeah.\u201d \u201cShh!\tLet\u2019s\tlisten!\u201d We\tall\tgot\tsuper\tquiet,\tlistening\tfor\tfootsteps\tin\tthe\tdark.\tAll\twe\tcould\thear\twere\tthe\tcrickets and\t frogs\t and\t our\t own\t crazy\t panting.\t We\t were\t out\t of\t breath,\t stomachs\t hurting,\t bodies\t bent over\tour\tknees. \u201cWe\tlost\tthem,\u201d\tsaid\tHenry. \u201cWhoa!\tThat\twas\tintense!\u201d \u201cWhat\thappened\tto\tthe\tflashlight?\u201d \u201cI\tdropped\tit!\u201d \u201cHow\tdid\tyou\tguys\tknow?\u201d\tsaid\tJack. \u201cWe\tsaw\tthem\tbefore.\u201d \u201cThey\tlooked\tlike\tjerks.\u201d \u201cYou\tjust\trammed\tinto\thim!\u201d\tI\tsaid\tto\tAmos. \u201cI\tknow,\tright?\u201d\tlaughed\tAmos. \u201cHe\tdidn\u2019t\teven\tsee\tit\tcoming!\u201d\tsaid\tMiles. \u201cHe\twas\tlike,\t\u2018Are\tyou\ta\tfreak,\ttoo?\u2019\tand\tyou\twere\tlike,\tbam!\u201d\tsaid\tJack. \u201cBam!\u201d\tsaid\tAmos,\tthrowing\ta\tfake\tpunch\tin\tthe\tair.\t\u201cBut\tafter\tI\ttackled\thim,\tI\twas\tlike,\trun, Amos,\tyou\tschmuck,\the\u2019s\tten\ttimes\tbigger\tthan\tyou!\tAnd\tI\tgot\tup\tand\tstarted\trunning\tas\tfast as\tI\tcould!\u201d We\tall\tstarted\tlaughing. \u201cI\tgrabbed\tAuggie\tand\tI\twas\tlike,\t\u2018Run!\u2019\t\u201d\tsaid\tHenry. \u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\teven\tknow\tit\twas\tyou\tpulling\tme!\u201d\tI\tanswered. \u201cThat\twas\twild,\u201d\tsaid\tAmos,\tshaking\this\thead. \u201cTotally\twild.\u201d \u201cYour\tlip\tis\tbleeding,\tdude.\u201d","\u201cI\tgot\tin\ta\tcouple\tof\tgood\tpunches,\u201d\tanswered\tAmos,\twiping\this\tlip. \u201cI\tthink\tthey\twere\tseventh\tgraders.\u201d \u201cThey\twere\thuge.\u201d \u201cLosers!\u201d\tHenry\tshouted\treally\tloudly,\tbut\twe\tall\tshushed\thim. We\tlistened\tfor\ta\tsecond\tto\tmake\tsure\tno\tone\thad\theard\thim. \u201cWhere\tthe\theck\tare\twe?\u201d\tasked\tAmos.\t\u201cI\tcan\u2019t\teven\tsee\tthe\tscreen.\u201d \u201cI\tthink\twe\u2019re\tin\tthe\tcornfields,\u201d\tanswered\tHenry. \u201cDuh,\twe\u2019re\tin\tthe\tcornfields,\u201d\tsaid\tMiles,\tpushing\ta\tcornstalk\tat\tHenry. \u201cOkay,\tI\tknow\texactly\twhere\twe\tare,\u201d\tsaid\tAmos.\t\u201cWe\thave\tto\tgo\tback\tin\tthis\tdirection.\tThat\u2019ll take\tus\tto\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\tfield.\u201d \u201cYo,\tdudes,\u201d\tsaid\tJack,\thand\thigh\tin\tthe\tair.\t\u201cThat\twas\treally\tcool\tof\tyou\tguys\tto\tcome\tback\tfor us.\tReally\tcool.\tThanks.\u201d \u201cNo\t problem,\u201d\t answered\t Amos,\t high-fiving\t Jack.\t And\t then\t Miles\t and\t Henry\t high-fived\t him, too. \u201cYeah,\t dudes,\t thanks,\u201d\t I\t said,\t holding\t my\t palm\t up\t like\t Jack\t just\t had,\t though\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t sure\t if they\u2019d\thigh-five\tme,\ttoo. Amos\tlooked\tat\tme\tand\tnodded.\t\u201cIt\twas\tcool\thow\tyou\tstood\tyour\tground,\tlittle\tdude,\u201d\the\tsaid, high-fiving\tme. \u201cYeah,\t Auggie,\u201d\t said\t Miles,\t high-fiving\t me,\t too.\t \u201cYou\t were\t like,\t \u2018We\u2019re\t littler\t than\t you\t guys\u2019 \u2026\u201d \u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhat\telse\tto\tsay!\u201d\tI\tlaughed. \u201cVery\tcool,\u201d\tsaid\tHenry,\tand\the\thigh-fived\tme,\ttoo.\t\u201cSorry\tI\tripped\tyour\tsweatshirt.\u201d I\t looked\t down,\t and\t my\t sweatshirt\t was\t completely\t torn\t down\t the\t middle.\t One\t sleeve\t was ripped\toff,\tand\tthe\tother\twas\tso\tstretched\tout\tit\twas\thanging\tdown\tto\tmy\tknees. \u201cHey,\tyour\telbow\u2019s\tbleeding,\u201d\tsaid\tJack. \u201cYeah.\u201d\tI\tshrugged.\tIt\twas\tstarting\tto\thurt\ta\tlot. \u201cYou\tokay?\u201d\tsaid\tJack,\tseeing\tmy\tface. I\tnodded.\tSuddenly\tI\tfelt\tlike\tcrying,\tand\tI\twas\ttrying\treally\thard\tnot\tto\tdo\tthat. \u201cWait,\tyour\thearing\taids\tare\tgone!\u201d\tsaid\tJack. \u201cWhat!\u201d\tI\tyelled,\ttouching\tmy\tears.\tThe\thearing\taid\tband\twas\tdefinitely\tgone.\tThat\u2019s\twhy\tI\tfelt like\t I\t was\t underwater!\t \u201cOh\t no!\u201d\t I\t said,\t and\t that\u2019s\t when\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t hold\t it\t in\t anymore. Everything\t that\t had\t just\t happened\t kind\t of\t hit\t me\t and\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t help\t it:\t I\t started\t to\t cry.\t Like big\tcrying,\twhat\tMom\twould\tcall\t\u201cthe\twaterworks.\u201d\tI\twas\tso\tembarrassed\tI\thid\tmy\tface\tin\tmy arm,\tbut\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tstop\tthe\ttears\tfrom\tcoming. The\tguys\twere\treally\tnice\tto\tme,\tthough.\tThey\tpatted\tme\ton\tthe\tback. \u201cYou\u2019re\tokay,\t\tdude.\tIt\u2019s\tokay,\u201d\tthey\tsaid. \u201cYou\u2019re\t one\t brave\t little\t dude,\t you\t know\t that?\u201d\t said\t Amos,\t putting\t his\t arm\t around\t my shoulders.\t And\t when\t I\t kept\t on\t crying,\t he\t put\t both\t his\t arms\t around\t me\t like\t my\t dad\t would have\tdone\tand\tlet\tme\tcry.","The\tEmperor\u2019s\tGuard We\t backtracked\t through\t the\t grass\t for\t a\t good\t ten\t minutes\t to\t see\t if\t we\t could\t find\t my\t hearing aids,\tbut\tit\twas\tway\ttoo\tdark\tto\tsee\tanything.\tWe\tliterally\thad\tto\thold\ton\tto\teach\tother\u2019s\tshirts and\t walk\t in\t single\t file\t so\t we\t wouldn\u2019t\t trip\t over\t one\t another.\t It\t was\t like\t black\t ink\t had\t been poured\tall\taround. \u201cThis\tis\thopeless,\u201d\tsaid\tHenry.\t\u201cThey\tcould\tbe\tanywhere.\u201d \u201cMaybe\twe\tcan\tcome\tback\twith\ta\tflashlight,\u201d\tanswered\tAmos. \u201cNo,\tit\u2019s\tokay,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cLet\u2019s\tjust\tgo\tback.\tThanks,\tthough.\u201d We\twalked\tback\ttoward\tthe\tcornfields,\tand\tthen\tcut\tthrough\tthem\tuntil\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\tgiant screen\t came\t into\t view.\t Since\t it\t was\t facing\t away\t from\t us,\t we\t didn\u2019t\t get\t any\t light\t from\t the screen\tat\tall\tuntil\twe\u2019d\twalked\taround\tto\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\twoods\tagain.\tThat\u2019s\twhere\twe\tfinally started\tseeing\ta\tlittle\tlight. There\twas\tno\tsign\tof\tthe\tseventh\tgraders\tanywhere. \u201cWhere\tdo\tyou\tthink\tthey\twent?\u201d\tsaid\tJack. \u201cBack\tto\tthe\tfood\ttrucks,\u201d\tsaid\tAmos.\t\u201cThey\u2019re\tprobably\tthinking\twe\u2019re\tgoing\tto\treport\tthem.\u201d \u201cAre\twe?\u201d\tasked\tHenry. They\tlooked\tat\tme.\tI\tshook\tmy\thead. \u201cOkay,\u201d\tsaid\tAmos,\t\u201cbut,\tlittle\tdude,\tdon\u2019t\twalk\taround\there\talone\tagain,\tokay?\tIf\tyou\tneed\tto go\tsomewhere,\ttell\tus\tand\twe\u2019ll\tgo\twith\tyou.\u201d \u201cOkay.\u201d\tI\tnodded. As\t we\t got\t closer\t to\t the\t screen,\t I\t could\t hear\t High\t on\t a\t hill\t was\t a\t lonely\t goatherd,\t and\t could smell\t the\t cotton\t candy\t from\t one\t of\t the\t concession\t stands\t near\t the\t food\t trucks.\t There\t were lots\t of\t kids\t milling\t around\t in\t this\t area,\t so\t I\t pulled\t what\t was\t left\t of\t my\t hoodie\t over\t my\t head and\tkept\tmy\tface\tdown,\thands\tin\tpockets,\tas\twe\tmade\tour\tway\tthrough\tthe\tcrowd.\tIt\thad\tbeen a\t long\t time\t since\t I\u2019d\t been\t out\t without\t my\t hearing\t aids,\t and\t it\t felt\t like\t I\t was\t miles\t under\t the earth.\t It\t felt\t like\t that\t song\t Miranda\t used\t to\t sing\t to\t me:\t Ground\t Control\t to\t Major\t Tom,\t your circuit\u2019s\tdead,\tthere\u2019s\tsomething\twrong\t\u2026 I\t did\t notice\t as\t I\t walked\t that\t Amos\t had\t stayed\t right\t next\t to\t me.\t And\t Jack\t was\t close\t on\t the other\t side\t of\t me.\t And\t Miles\t was\t in\t front\t of\t us\t and\t Henry\t was\t in\t back\t of\t us.\t They\t were surrounding\t me\t as\t we\t walked\t through\t the\t crowds\t of\t kids.\t Like\t I\t had\t my\t own\t emperor\u2019s guard.","Sleep Then\t they\t came\t out\t of\t the\t narrow\t valley\t and\t at\t once\t she\t saw\t the\t reason.\t There stood\t Peter\t and\t Edmund\t and\t all\t the\t rest\t of\t Aslan\u2019s\t army\t fighting\t desperately against\t the\t crowd\t of\t horrible\t creatures\t whom\t she\t had\t seen\t last\t night;\t only\t now,\t in the\tdaylight,\tthey\tlooked\teven\tstranger\tand\tmore\tevil\tand\tmore\tdeformed. I\t stopped\t there.\t I\u2019d\t been\t reading\t for\t over\t an\t hour\t and\t sleep\t still\t didn\u2019t\t come.\t It\t was\t almost two\ta.m.\tEveryone\telse\twas\tasleep.\tI\thad\tmy\tflashlight\ton\tunder\tthe\tsleeping\tbag,\tand\tmaybe the\tlight\twas\twhy\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tsleep,\tbut\tI\twas\ttoo\tafraid\tto\tturn\tit\toff.\tI\twas\tafraid\tof\thow\tdark\tit was\toutside\tthe\tsleeping\tbag. When\t we\t got\t back\t to\t our\t section\t in\t front\t of\t the\t movie\t screen,\t no\t one\t had\t even\t noticed\t we\u2019d been\t gone.\t Mr.\t Tushman\t and\t Ms.\t Rubin\t and\t Summer\t and\t all\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t kids\t were\t just watching\t the\t movie.\t They\t had\t no\t clue\t how\t something\t bad\t had\t almost\t happened\t to\t me\t and Jack.\t It\u2019s\t so\t weird\t how\t that\t can\t be,\t how\t you\t could\t have\t a\t night\t that\u2019s\t the\t worst\t in\t your\t life, but\tto\teverybody\telse\tit\u2019s\tjust\tan\tordinary\tnight.\tLike,\ton\tmy\tcalendar\tat\thome,\tI\twould\tmark this\tas\tbeing\tone\tof\tthe\tmost\thorrific\tdays\tof\tmy\tlife.\tThis\tand\tthe\tday\tDaisy\tdied.\tBut\tfor\tthe rest\t of\t the\t world,\t this\t was\t just\t an\t ordinary\t day.\t Or\t maybe\t it\t was\t even\t a\t good\t day.\t Maybe somebody\twon\tthe\tlottery\ttoday. Amos,\t Miles,\t and\t Henry\t brought\t me\t and\t Jack\t over\t to\t where\t we\u2019d\t been\t sitting\t before,\t with Summer\tand\tMaya\tand\tReid,\tand\tthen\tthey\twent\tand\tsat\twhere\tthey\thad\tbeen\tsitting\tbefore, with\t Ximena\t and\t Savanna\t and\t their\t group.\t In\t a\t way,\t everything\t was\t exactly\t as\t we\t had\t left\t it before\t we\t went\t looking\t for\t the\t toilets.\t The\t sky\t was\t the\t same.\t The\t movie\t was\t the\t same. Everyone\u2019s\tfaces\twere\tthe\tsame.\tMine\twas\tthe\tsame. But\tsomething\twas\tdifferent.\tSomething\thad\tchanged. I\t could\t see\t Amos\t and\t Miles\t and\t Henry\t telling\t their\t group\t what\t had\t just\t happened.\t I\t knew they\twere\ttalking\tabout\tit\tbecause\tthey\tkept\tlooking\tover\tat\tme\twhile\tthey\twere\ttalking.\tEven though\t the\t movie\t was\t still\t playing,\t people\t were\t whispering\t about\t it\t in\t the\t dark.\t News\t like that\tspreads\tfast. It\twas\twhat\teveryone\twas\ttalking\tabout\ton\tthe\tbus\tride\tback\tto\tthe\tcabins.\tAll\tthe\tgirls,\teven girls\t I\t didn\u2019t\t know\t very\t well,\t were\t asking\t me\t if\t I\t was\t okay.\t The\t boys\t were\t all\t talking\t about getting\t revenge\t on\t the\t group\t of\t seventh-grade\t jerks,\t trying\t to\t figure\t out\t what\t school\t they were\tfrom. I\twasn\u2019t\tplanning\ton\ttelling\tthe\tteachers\tabout\tany\tof\twhat\thad\thappened,\tbut\tthey\tfound\tout anyway.\t Maybe\t it\t was\t the\t torn\t sweatshirt\t and\t the\t bloody\t elbow.\t Or\t maybe\t it\u2019s\t just\t that teachers\thear\teverything. When\t we\t got\t back\t to\t the\t camp,\t Mr.\t Tushman\t took\t me\t to\t the\t first-aid\t office,\t and\t while\t I\t was getting\t my\t elbow\t cleaned\t and\t bandaged\t up\t by\t the\t camp\t nurse,\t Mr.\t Tushman\t and\t the\t camp director\twere\tin\tthe\tnext\troom\ttalking\twith\tAmos\tand\tJack\tand\tHenry\tand\tMiles,\ttrying\tto\tget a\t description\t of\t the\t troublemakers.\t When\t he\t asked\t me\t about\t them\t a\t little\t later,\t I\t said\t I couldn\u2019t\tremember\ttheir\tfaces\tat\tall,\twhich\twasn\u2019t\ttrue. It\u2019s\ttheir\tfaces\tI\tkept\tseeing\tevery\ttime\tI\tclosed\tmy\teyes\tto\tsleep.\tThe\tlook\tof\ttotal\thorror\ton the\tgirl\u2019s\tface\twhen\tshe\tfirst\tsaw\tme.\tThe\tway\tthe\tkid\twith\tthe\tflashlight,\tEddie,\tlooked\tat\tme as\the\ttalked\tto\t\tme,\tlike\the\thated\tme. Like\ta\tlamb\tto\tthe\tslaughter.\tI\tremember\tDad\tsaying\tthat\tages\tago,\tbut\ttonight\tI\tthink\tI\tfinally got\twhat\tit\tmeant.","Aftermath Mom\twas\twaiting\tfor\tme\tin\tfront\tof\tthe\tschool\talong\twith\tall\tthe\tother\tparents\twhen\tthe\tbus arrived.\t Mr.\t Tushman\t told\t me\t on\t the\t bus\t ride\t home\t that\t they\t had\t called\t my\t parents\t to\t tell them\t there\t had\t been\t a\t \u201csituation\u201d\t the\t night\t before\t but\t that\t everyone\t was\t fine.\t He\t said\t the camp\t director\t and\t several\t of\t the\t counselors\t went\t looking\t for\t the\t hearing\t aid\t in\t the\t morning while\twe\tall\twent\tswimming\tin\tthe\tlake,\tbut\tthey\tcouldn\u2019t\tfind\tit\tanywhere.\tBroarwood\twould reimburse\tus\tthe\tcost\tof\tthe\thearing\taids,\the\tsaid.\tThey\tfelt\tbad\tabout\twhat\thappened. I\t wondered\t if\t Eddie\t had\t taken\t my\t hearing\t aids\t with\t him\t as\t a\t kind\t of\t souvenir.\t Something\t to remember\tthe\torc. Mom\tgave\tme\ta\ttight\thug\twhen\tI\tgot\toff\tthe\tbus,\tbut\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tslam\tme\twith\tquestions\tlike\tI thought\tshe\tmight.\tHer\thug\tfelt\tgood,\tand\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tshake\tit\toff\tlike\tsome\tof\tthe\tother\tkids\twere doing\twith\ttheir\tparents\u2019\thugs. The\tbus\tdriver\tstarted\tunloading\tour\tduffel\tbags,\tand\tI\twent\tto\tfind\tmine\twhile\tMom\ttalked\tto Mr.\tTushman\tand\tMs.\tRubin,\twho\thad\twalked\tover\tto\ther.\tAs\tI\trolled\tmy\tbag\ttoward\ther,\ta\tlot of\t kids\t who\t don\u2019t\t usually\t say\t anything\t to\t me\t were\t nodding\t hello,\t or\t patting\t my\t back\t as\t I walked\tby\tthem. \u201cReady?\u201d\tMom\tsaid\twhen\tshe\tsaw\tme.\tShe\ttook\tmy\tduffel\tbag,\tand\tI\tdidn\u2019t\teven\ttry\tto\thold\ton to\tit:\tI\twas\tfine\twith\ther\tcarrying\tit.\tIf\tshe\thad\twanted\tto\tcarry\tme\ton\ther\tshoulders,\tI\twould have\tbeen\tfine\twith\tthat,\ttoo,\tto\tbe\ttruthful. As\twe\tstarted\tto\twalk\taway,\tMr.\tTushman\tgave\tme\ta\tquick,\ttight\thug\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\tsay\tanything.","Home Mom\t and\t I\t didn\u2019t\t talk\t much\t the\t whole\t walk\t home,\t and\t when\t we\t got\t to\t the\t front\t stoop,\t I automatically\tlooked\tin\tthe\tfront\tbay\twindow,\tbecause\tI\tforgot\tfor\ta\tsecond\tthat\tDaisy\twasn\u2019t going\t to\t be\t there\t like\t always,\t perched\t on\t the\t sofa\t with\t her\t front\t paws\t on\t the\t windowsill, waiting\t for\t us\t to\t come\t home.\t It\t made\t me\t kind\t of\t sad\t when\t we\t walked\t inside.\t As\t soon\t as\t we did,\tMom\tdropped\tmy\tduffel\tbag\tand\twrapped\ther\tarms\taround\tme\tand\tkissed\tme\ton\tmy\thead and\ton\tmy\tface\tlike\tshe\twas\tbreathing\tme\tin. \u201cIt\u2019s\tokay,\tMom,\tI\u2019m\tfine,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tsmiling. She\tnodded\tand\ttook\tmy\tface\tin\ther\thands.\tHer\teyes\twere\tshiny. \u201cI\tknow\tyou\tare,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tmissed\tyou\tso\tmuch,\tAuggie.\u201d \u201cI\tmissed\tyou,\ttoo.\u201d I\tcould\ttell\tshe\twanted\tto\tsay\ta\tlot\tof\tthings\tbut\tshe\twas\tstopping\therself. \u201cAre\tyou\thungry?\u201d\tshe\tasked. \u201cStarving.\tCan\tI\thave\ta\tgrilled\tcheese?\u201d \u201cOf\t course,\u201d\t she\t answered,\t and\t immediately\t started\t to\t make\t the\t sandwich\t while\t I\t took\t my jacket\toff\tand\tsat\tdown\tat\tthe\tkitchen\tcounter. \u201cWhere\u2019s\tVia?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cShe\u2019s\tcoming\thome\twith\tDad\ttoday.\tBoy,\tdid\tshe\tmiss\tyou,\tAuggie,\u201d\tMom\tsaid. \u201cYeah?\t She\t would\t have\t liked\t the\t nature\t reserve.\t You\t know\t what\t movie\t they\t played?\t The Sound\tof\tMusic.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019ll\thave\tto\ttell\ther\tthat.\u201d \u201cSo,\t do\t you\t want\t to\t hear\t about\t the\t bad\t part\t or\t the\t good\t part\t first?\u201d\t I\t asked\t after\t a\t few minutes,\tleaning\tmy\thead\ton\tmy\thand. \u201cWhatever\tyou\twant\tto\ttalk\tabout,\u201d\tshe\tanswered. \u201cWell,\t except\t for\t last\t night,\t I\t had\t an\t awesome\t time,\u201d\t I\t said.\t \u201cI\t mean,\t it\t was\t just\t awesome. That\u2019s\twhy\tI\u2019m\tso\tbummed.\tI\tfeel\tlike\tthey\truined\tthe\twhole\ttrip\tfor\tme.\u201d \u201cNo,\t sweetie,\t don\u2019t\t let\t them\t do\t that\t to\t you.\t You\t were\t there\t for\t more\t than\t forty-eight\t hours, and\tthat\tawful\tpart\tlasted\tone\thour.\tDon\u2019t\tlet\tthem\ttake\tthat\taway\tfrom\tyou,\tokay?\u201d \u201cI\tknow.\u201d\tI\tnodded.\t\u201cDid\tMr.\tTushman\ttell\tyou\tabout\tthe\thearing\taids?\u201d \u201cYes,\the\tcalled\tus\tthis\tmorning.\u201d \u201cWas\tDad\tmad?\tBecause\tthey\u2019re\tso\texpensive?\u201d \u201cOh\tmy\tgosh,\tof\tcourse\tnot,\tAuggie.\tHe\tjust\twanted\tto\tknow\tthat\tyou\twere\tall\tright.\tThat\u2019s\tall that\tmatters\tto\tus.\tAnd\tthat\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tlet\tthose\t\u2026\tthugs\t\u2026\truin\tyour\ttrip.\u201d I\tkind\tof\tlaughed\tat\tthe\tway\tshe\tsaid\tthe\tword\t\u201cthugs.\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d\tshe\tasked. \u201cThugs,\u201d\tI\tteased\ther.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\tkind\tof\tan\told-fashioned\tword.\u201d \u201cOkay,\t jerks.\t Morons.\t Imbeciles,\u201d\t she\t said,\t flipping\t over\t the\t sandwich\t in\t the\t pan.\t \u201cCretinos, as\tmy\tmother\twould\thave\tsaid.\tWhatever\tyou\twant\tto\tcall\tthem,\tif\tI\tsaw\tthem\ton\tthe\tstreet,\tI would\t\u2026\u201d\tShe\tshook\ther\thead. \u201cThey\twere\tpretty\tbig,\tMom.\u201d\tI\tsmiled.\t\u201cSeventh\tgraders,\tI\tthink.\u201d","She\tshook\ther\thead.\t\u201cSeventh\tgraders?\tMr.\tTushman\tdidn\u2019t\ttell\tus\tthat.\tOh\tmy\tgoodness.\u201d \u201cDid\the\ttell\tyou\thow\tJack\tstood\tup\tfor\tme?\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cAnd\tAmos\twas\tlike,\tbam,\the\trammed\tright into\t the\t leader.\t They\t both\t crashed\t to\t the\t ground,\t like\t in\t a\t real\t fight!\t It\t was\t pretty\t awesome. Amos\u2019s\tlip\twas\tbleeding\tand\teverything.\u201d \u201cHe\ttold\tus\tthere\twas\ta\tfight,\tbut\t\u2026,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tlooking\tat\tme\twith\ther\teyebrows\traised.\t\u201cI\u2019m just\t\u2026\tphew\t\u2026\tI\u2019m\tjust\tso\tgrateful\tyou\tand\tAmos\tand\tJack\tare\tfine.\tWhen\tI\tthink\tabout\twhat could\thave\thappened\t\u2026,\u201d\tshe\ttrailed\toff,\tflipping\tthe\tgrilled\tcheese\tagain. \u201cMy\tMontauk\thoodie\tgot\ttotally\tshredded.\u201d \u201cWell,\tthat\tcan\tbe\treplaced,\u201d\tshe\tanswered.\tShe\tlifted\tthe\tgrilled\tcheese\tonto\ta\tplate\tand\tput the\tplate\tin\tfront\tof\tme\ton\tthe\tcounter.\t\u201c\tMilk\tor\twhite\tgrape\tjuice?\u201d \u201cChocolate\t milk,\t please?\u201d\t I\t started\t devouring\t the\t sandwich.\t \u201cOh,\t can\t you\t do\t it\t that\t special way\tyou\tmake\tit,\twith\tthe\tfroth?\u201d \u201cHow\tdid\tyou\tand\tJack\tend\tup\tat\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\twoods\tin\tthe\tfirst\tplace?\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tpouring the\tmilk\tinto\ta\ttall\tglass. \u201cJack\thad\tto\tgo\tto\tthe\tbathroom,\u201d\tI\tanswered,\tmy\tmouth\tfull.\tAs\tI\twas\ttalking,\tshe\tspooned\tin the\t chocolate\t powder\t and\t started\t rolling\t a\t small\t whisk\t between\t her\t palms\t really\t fast.\t \u201cBut there\twas\ta\thuge\tline\tand\the\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\twait.\tSo\twe\twent\ttoward\tthe\twoods\tto\tpee.\u201d\tShe looked\t up\t at\t me\t while\t she\t was\t whisking.\t I\t know\t she\t was\t thinking\t we\t shouldn\u2019t\t have\t done that.\tThe\tchocolate\tmilk\tin\tthe\tglass\tnow\thad\ta\ttwo-inch\tfroth\ton\ttop.\t\u201cThat\tlooks\tgood,\tMom. Thanks.\u201d \u201cAnd\tthen\twhat\thappened?\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tputting\tthe\tglass\tin\tfront\tof\tme. I\t took\t a\t long\t drink\t of\t the\t chocolate\t milk.\t \u201cIs\t it\t okay\t if\t we\t don\u2019t\t talk\t about\t it\t anymore\t right now?\u201d \u201cOh.\tOkay.\u201d \u201cI\t promise\t I\u2019ll\t tell\t you\t all\t about\t it\t later,\t when\t Dad\t and\t Via\t come\t home.\t I\u2019ll\t tell\t you\t all\t every detail.\tI\tjust\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\thave\tto\ttell\tthe\twhole\tstory\tover\tand\tover,\tyou\tknow?\u201d \u201cAbsolutely.\u201d I\tfinished\tmy\tsandwich\tin\ttwo\tmore\tbites\tand\tgulped\tdown\tthe\tchocolate\tmilk. \u201cWow,\tyou\tpractically\tinhaled\tthat\tsandwich.\tDo\tyou\twant\tanother\tone?\u201d\tshe\tsaid. I\tshook\tmy\thead\tand\twiped\tmy\tmouth\twith\tthe\tback\tof\tmy\thand. \u201cMom?\tAm\tI\talways\tgoing\tto\thave\tto\tworry\tabout\tjerks\tlike\tthat?\u201d\tI\tasked.\t\u201cLike\twhen\tI\tgrow up,\tis\tit\talways\tgoing\tto\tbe\tlike\tthis?\u201d She\tdidn\u2019t\tanswer\tright\taway,\tbut\ttook\tmy\tplate\tand\tglass\tand\tput\tthem\tin\tthe\tsink\tand\trinsed them\twith\twater. \u201cThere\t are\t always\t going\t to\t be\t jerks\t in\t the\t world,\t Auggie,\u201d\t she\t said,\t looking\t at\t me.\t \u201cBut\t I really\t believe,\t and\t Daddy\t really\t believes,\t that\t there\t are\t more\t good\t people\t on\t this\t earth\t than bad\t people,\t and\t the\t good\t people\t watch\t out\t for\t each\t other\t and\t take\t care\t of\t each\t other.\t Just like\tJack\twas\tthere\tfor\tyou.\tAnd\tAmos.\tAnd\tthose\tother\tkids.\u201d \u201cOh\t yeah,\t Miles\t and\t Henry,\u201d\t I\t answered.\t \u201cThey\t were\t awesome,\t too.\t It\u2019s\t weird\t because\t Miles and\tHenry\thaven\u2019t\teven\treally\tbeen\tvery\tnice\tto\tme\tat\tall\tduring\tthe\tyear.\u201d \u201cSometimes\tpeople\tsurprise\tus,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\trubbing\tthe\ttop\tof\tmy\thead. \t \u201cI\tguess.\u201d \u201cWant\tanother\tglass\tof\tchocolate\tmilk?\u201d","\u201cNo,\t I\u2019m\t good,\u201d\t I\t said.\t \u201cThanks,\t Mom.\t Actually,\t I\u2019m\t kind\t of\t tired.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t sleep\t too\t good\t last night.\u201d \u201cYou\tshould\ttake\ta\tnap.\tThanks\tfor\tleaving\tme\tBaboo,\tby\tthe\tway.\u201d \u201cYou\tgot\tmy\tnote?\u201d She\tsmiled.\t\u201cI\tslept\twith\thim\tboth\tnights.\u201d\tShe\twas\tabout\tto\tsay\tsomething\telse\twhen\ther\tcell phone\t rang,\t and\t she\t answered.\t She\t started\t beaming\t as\t she\t listened.\t \u201cOh\t my\t goodness, really?\tWhat\tkind?\u201d\tshe\tsaid\texcitedly.\t\u201cYep,\the\u2019s\tright\there.\tHe\twas\tabout\tto\ttake\ta\tnap.\tWant to\tsay\thi?\tOh,\tokay,\tsee\tyou\tin\ttwo\tminutes.\u201d\tShe\tclicked\tit\toff. \u201cThat\twas\tDaddy,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\texcitedly.\t\u201cHe\tand\tVia\tare\tjust\tdown\tthe\tblock.\u201d \u201cHe\u2019s\tnot\tat\twork?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cHe\tleft\tearly\tbecause\the\tcouldn\u2019t\twait\tto\tsee\tyou,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cSo\tdon\u2019t\ttake\ta\tnap\tquite\tyet.\u201d Five\t seconds\t later\t Dad\t and\t Via\t came\t through\t the\t door.\t I\t ran\t into\t Dad\u2019s\t arms,\t and\t he\t picked me\tup\tand\tspun\tme\taround\tand\tkissed\tme.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tlet\tme\tgo\tfor\ta\tfull\tminute,\tuntil\tI\tsaid, \u201cDad,\t it\u2019s\t okay.\u201d\t And\t then\t it\t was\t Via\u2019s\t turn,\t and\t she\t kissed\t me\t all\t over\t like\t she\t used\t to\t do when\tI\twas\tlittle. It\t wasn\u2019t\t until\t she\t stopped\t that\t I\t noticed\t the\t big\t white\t cardboard\t box\t they\t had\t brought\t in with\tthem. \u201cWhat\tis\tthat?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cOpen\tit,\u201d\tsaid\tDad,\tsmiling,\tand\the\tand\tMom\tlooked\tat\teach\tother\tlike\tthey\tknew\ta\tsecret. \u201cCome\ton,\tAuggie!\u201d\tsaid\tVia. I\topened\tthe\tbox.\tInside\twas\tthe\tcutest\tlittle\tpuppy\tI\u2019ve\tever\tseen\tin\tmy\tlife.\tIt\twas\tblack\tand furry,\twith\ta\tpointy\tlittle\tsnout\tand\tbright\tblack\teyes\tand\tsmall\tears\tthat\tflopped\tdown.","Bear We\t called\t the\t puppy\t Bear\t because\t when\t Mom\t first\t saw\t him,\t she\t said\t he\t looked\t just\t like\t a little\t bear\t cub.\t I\t said:\t \u201cThat\u2019s\t what\t we\t should\t call\t him!\u201d\t and\t everyone\t agreed\t that\t that\t was the\tperfect\tname. I\ttook\tthe\tnext\tday\toff\tfrom\tschool\u2014not\tbecause\tmy\telbow\twas\thurting\tme,\twhich\tit\twas,\tbut so\t I\t could\t play\t with\t Bear\t all\t day\t long.\t Mom\t let\t Via\t stay\t home\t from\t school,\t too,\t so\t the\t two\t of us\t took\t turns\t cuddling\t with\t Bear\t and\t playing\t tug-of-war\t with\t him.\t We\t had\t kept\t all\t of\t Daisy\u2019s old\ttoys,\tand\twe\tbrought\tthem\tout\tnow,\tto\tsee\twhich\tones\the\u2019d\tlike\tbest. It\t was\t fun\t hanging\t out\t with\t Via\t all\t day,\t just\t the\t two\t of\t us.\t It\t was\t like\t old\t times,\t like\t before\t I started\t going\t to\t school.\t Back\t then,\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t wait\t for\t her\t to\t come\t home\t from\t school\t so\t she could\t play\t with\t me\t before\t starting\t her\t homework.\t Now\t that\t we\u2019re\t older,\t though,\t and\t I\u2019m going\tto\tschool\tand\thave\tfriends\tof\tmy\town\tthat\tI\thang\tout\twith,\twe\tnever\tdo\tthat\tanymore. So\tit\twas\tnice\thanging\tout\twith\ther,\tlaughing\tand\tplaying.\tI\tthink\tshe\tliked\tit,\ttoo.","The\tShift When\t I\t went\t back\t to\t school\t the\t next\t day,\t the\t first\t thing\t I\t noticed\t was\t that\t there\t was\t a\t big shift\tin\tthe\tway\tthings\twere.\tA\tmonumental\tshift.\tA\tseismic\tshift.\tMaybe\teven\ta\tcosmic\tshift. Whatever\t you\t want\t to\t call\t it,\t it\t was\t a\t big\t shift.\t Everyone\u2014not\t just\t in\t our\t grade\t but\t every grade\u2014had\t heard\t about\t what\t had\t happened\t to\t us\t with\t the\t seventh\t graders,\t so\t s\t uddenly\t I wasn\u2019t\tknown\tfor\twhat\tI\u2019d\talways\tbeen\tknown\tfor,\tbut\tfor\tthis\tother\tthing\tthat\thad\thappened. And\tthe\tstory\tof\twhat\thappened\thad\tgotten\tbigger\tand\tbigger\teach\ttime\tit\twas\ttold.\tTwo\tdays later,\tthe\tway\tthe\tstory\twent\twas\tthat\tAmos\thad\tgotten\tinto\ta\tmajor\tfistfight\twith\tthe\tkid,\tand Miles\t and\t Henry\t and\t Jack\t had\t thrown\t some\t punches\t at\t the\t other\t guys,\t too.\t And\t the\t escape across\tthe\tfield\tbecame\tthis\twhole\tlong\tadventure\tthrough\ta\tcornfield\tmaze\tand\tinto\tthe\tdeep dark\t woods.\t Jack\u2019s\t version\t of\t the\t story\t was\t probably\t the\t best\t because\t he\u2019s\t so\t funny,\t but\t in whatever\tversion\tof\tthe\tstory,\tand\tno\tmatter\twho\twas\ttelling\tit,\ttwo\tthings\talways\tstayed\tthe same:\t I\t got\t picked\t on\t because\t of\t my\t face\t and\t Jack\t defended\t me,\t and\t those\t guys\u2014Amos, Henry,\tand\tMiles\u2014protected\tme.\tAnd\tnow\tthat\tthey\u2019d\tprotected\tme,\tI\twas\tdifferent\tto\tthem.\tIt was\t like\t I\t was\t one\t of\t them.\t They\t all\t called\t me\t \u201clittle\t dude\u201d\t now\u2014even\t the\t jocks.\t These\t big dudes\tI\tbarely\teven\tknew\tbefore\twould\tknuckle-punch\tme\tin\tthe\thallways\tnow. Another\t thing\t to\t come\t out\t of\t it\t was\t that\t Amos\t became\t super\t popular\t and\t Julian,\t because\t he missed\t the\t whole\t thing,\t was\t really\t out\t of\t the\t loop.\t Miles\t and\t Henry\t were\t hanging\t out\t with Amos\t all\t the\t time\t now,\t like\t they\t switched\t best\t friends.\t I\u2019d\t like\t to\t be\t able\t to\t say\t that\t Julian started\t treating\t me\t better,\t too,\t but\t that\t wouldn\u2019t\t be\t true.\t He\t still\t gave\t me\t dirty\t looks\t across the\troom.\tHe\tstill\tnever\ttalked\tto\tme\tor\tJack.\tBut\the\twas\tthe\tonly\tone\twho\twas\tlike\tthat\tnow. And\tme\tand\tJack,\twe\tcouldn\u2019t\tcare\tless.","Ducks The\t day\t before\t the\t last\t day\t of\t school,\t Mr.\t Tushman\t called\t me\t into\t his\t office\t to\t tell\t me\t they had\tfound\tout\tthe\tnames\tof\tthe\tseventh\tgraders\tfrom\tthe\tnature\tretreat.\tHe\tread\toff\ta\tbunch of\tnames\t\tthat\tdidn\u2019t\tmean\tanything\tto\tme,\tand\tthen\the\tsaid\tthe\tlast\tname:\t\u201cEdward\tJohnson.\u201d I\tnodded. \u201cYou\trecognize\tthe\tname?\u201d\the\tsaid. \u201cThey\tcalled\thim\tEddie.\u201d \u201cRight.\tWell,\tthey\tfound\tthis\tin\tEdward\u2019s\tlocker.\u201d\tHe\thanded\tme\twhat\twas\tleft\tof\tmy\thearing aid\t headband.\t The\t right\t piece\t was\t completely\t gone\t and\t the\t left\t one\t was\t mangled.\t The\t band that\tconnected\tthe\ttwo,\tthe\tLobot\tpart,\twas\tbent\tdown\tthe\tmiddle. \u201cHis\tschool\twants\tto\tknow\tif\tyou\twant\tto\tpress\tcharges,\u201d\tsaid\tMr.\tTushman. I\tlooked\tat\tmy\thearing\taid. \u201cNo,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tso.\u201d\tI\tshrugged.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tbeing\tfitted\tfor\tnew\tones\tanyway.\u201d \u201cHmm.\tWhy\tdon\u2019t\tyou\ttalk\tabout\tit\twith\tyour\tparents\ttonight?\tI\u2019ll\tcall\tyour\tmom\ttomorrow\tto talk\tabout\tit\twith\ther,\ttoo.\u201d \u201cWould\tthey\tgo\tto\tjail?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cNo,\tnot\tjail.\tBut\tthey\u2019d\tprobably\tgo\tto\tjuvie\tcourt.\tAnd\tmaybe\tthey\u2019ll\tlearn\ta\tlesson\tthat\tway.\u201d \u201cTrust\tme:\tthat\tEddie\tkid\tis\tnot\tlearning\tany\tlessons,\u201d\tI\tjoked. He\tsat\tdown\tbehind\this\tdesk. \u201cAuggie,\twhy\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tsit\tdown\ta\tsecond?\u201d\the\tsaid. I\tsat\tdown.\tAll\tthe\tthings\ton\this\tdesk\twere\tthe\tsame\tas\twhen\tI\tfirst\twalked\tinto\this\toffice\tlast summer:\t the\t same\t mirrored\t cube,\t the\t same\t little\t globe\t floating\t in\t the\t air.\t That\t felt\t like\t ages ago. \u201cHard\tto\tbelieve\tthis\tyear\u2019s\talmost\tover,\thuh?\u201d\the\tsaid,\talmost\tlike\the\twas\treading\tmy\tmind. \u201cYeah.\u201d \u201cHas\tit\tbeen\ta\tgood\tyear\tfor\tyou,\tAuggie?\tHas\tit\tbeen\tokay?\u201d \u201cYeah,\tit\u2019s\tbeen\tgood.\u201d\tI\tnodded. \u201cI\tknow\tacademically\tit\u2019s\tbeen\ta\tgreat\tyear\tfor\tyou.\tYou\u2019re\tone\tof\tour\ttop\tstudents.\tCongrats on\tthe\tHigh\tHonor\tRoll.\u201d \u201cThanks.\tYeah,\tthat\u2019s\tcool.\u201d \u201cBut\t I\t know\t it\u2019s\t had\t its\t share\t of\t ups\t and\t downs,\u201d\t he\t said,\t raising\t his\t eyebrows.\t \u201cCertainly, that\tnight\tat\tthe\tnature\treserve\twas\tone\tof\tthe\tlow\tpoints.\u201d \u201cYeah.\u201d\tI\tnodded.\t\u201cBut\tit\twas\talso\tkind\tof\tgood,\ttoo.\u201d \u201cIn\twhat\tway?\u201d \u201cWell,\tyou\tknow,\thow\tpeople\tstood\tup\tfor\tme\tand\tstuff?\u201d \u201cThat\twas\tpretty\twonderful,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tsmiling. \u201cYeah.\u201d \u201cI\tknow\tin\tschool\tthings\tgot\ta\tlittle\thairy\twith\tJulian\tat\ttimes.\u201d","I\thave\tto\tadmit:\the\tsurprised\tme\twith\tthat\tone. \u201cYou\tknow\tabout\tthat\tstuff?\u201d\tI\tasked\thim. \u201cMiddle-school\tdirectors\thave\ta\tway\tof\tknowing\tabout\ta\tlot\tof\tstuff.\u201d \u201cDo\tyou\thave,\tlike,\tsecret\tsecurity\tcameras\tin\tthe\thallways?\u201d\tI\tjoked. \u201cAnd\tmicrophones\teverywhere,\u201d\the\tlaughed. \u201cNo,\tseriously?\u201d He\tlaughed\tagain.\t\u201cNo,\tnot\tseriously.\u201d \u201cOh!\u201d \u201cBut\tteachers\tknow\tmore\tthan\tkids\tthink,\tAuggie.\tI\twish\tyou\tand\tJack\thad\tcome\tto\tme\tabout the\tmean\tnotes\tthat\twere\tleft\tin\tyour\tlockers.\u201d \u201cHow\tdo\tyou\tknow\tabout\tthat?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cI\u2019m\ttelling\tyou:\tmiddle-school\tdirectors\tknow\tall.\u201d \u201cIt\twasn\u2019t\tthat\tbig\ta\tdeal,\u201d\tI\tanswered.\t\u201cAnd\twe\twrote\tnotes,\ttoo.\u201d He\tsmiled.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tif\tit\u2019s\tpublic\tyet,\u201d\the\tsaid,\t\u201cthough\tit\twill\tbe\tsoon\tanyway,\tbut\tJulian Albans\tis\tnot\tcoming\tback\tto\tBeecher\tPrep\tnext\tyear.\u201d \u201cWhat!\u201d\tI\tsaid.\tI\thonestly\tcouldn\u2019t\thide\thow\tsurprised\tI\twas. \u201cHis\t parents\t don\u2019t\t think\t Beecher\t Prep\t is\t a\t good\t fit\t for\t him,\u201d\t Mr.\t Tushman\t continued,\t raising his\tshoulders. \u201cWow,\tthat\u2019s\tbig\tnews,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cYeah,\tI\tthought\tyou\tshould\tknow.\u201d Then\t suddenly\t I\t noticed\t that\t the\t pumpkin\t portrait\t that\t used\t to\t be\t behind\t his\t desk\t was\t gone and\t my\t drawing,\t my\t Self-Portrait\t as\t an\t Animal\t that\t I\t drew\t for\t the\t New\t Year\t Art\t Show,\t was now\tframed\tand\thanging\tbehind\this\tdesk. \u201cHey,\tthat\u2019s\tmine!\u201d\tI\tpointed. Mr.\t Tushman\t turned\t around\t like\t he\t didn\u2019t\t know\t what\t I\t was\t talking\t about.\t \u201cOh,\t that\u2019s\t right!\u201d he\tsaid,\ttapping\this\tforehead.\t\u201cI\u2019ve\tbeen\tmeaning\tto\tshow\tthis\tto\tyou\tfor\tmonths\tnow.\u201d \u201cMy\tself-portrait\tas\ta\tduck.\u201d\tI\tnodded. \u201cI\t love\t this\t piece,\t Auggie,\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cWhen\t your\t art\t teacher\t showed\t it\t to\t me,\t I\t asked\t her\t if\t I could\tkeep\tit\tfor\tmy\twall.\tI\thope\tthat\u2019s\tokay\twith\tyou.\u201d \u201cOh,\tyeah!\tSure.\tWhat\thappened\tto\tthe\tpumpkin\tportrait?\u201d \u201cRight\tbehind\tyou.\u201d \u201cOh,\tyeah.\tNice.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve\t been\t meaning\t to\t ask\t you\t since\t I\t hung\t this\t up\t \u2026,\u201d\t he\t said,\t looking\t at\t it.\t \u201cWhy\t did\t you choose\tto\trepresent\tyourself\tas\ta\tduck?\u201d \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u201d\tI\tanswered.\t\u201cThat\twas\tthe\tassignment.\u201d \u201cYes,\t but\t why\t a\t duck?\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cIs\t it\t safe\t to\t assume\t that\t it\t was\t because\t of\t the\t story\t of the\t\u2026\tum,\tthe\tduckling\tthat\tturns\tinto\ta\tswan?\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d\tI\tlaughed,\tshaking\tmy\thead.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tbecause\tI\tthink\tI\tlook\tlike\ta\tduck.\u201d \u201cOh!\u201d\t said\t Mr.\t Tushman,\t his\t eyes\t opening\t wide.\t He\t started\t laughing.\t \u201cReally?\t Huh.\t Here\t I","was\tlooking\tfor\tsymbolism\tand\tmetaphors\tand,\tum\t\u2026\tsometimes\ta\tduck\tis\tjust\ta\tduck!\u201d \u201cYeah,\t I\t guess,\u201d\t I\t said,\t not\t quite\t getting\t why\t he\t thought\t that\t was\t so\t funny.\t He\t laughed\t to himself\tfor\ta\tgood\tthirty\tseconds. \u201cAnyway,\t Auggie,\t thanks\t for\t chatting\t with\t me,\u201d\t he\t said,\t finally.\t \u201cI\t just\t want\t you\t to\t know\t it\u2019s truly\t a\t pleasure\t having\t you\t here\t at\t Beecher\t Prep,\t and\t I\u2019m\t really\t looking\t forward\t to\t next year.\u201d\tHe\treached\tacross\tthe\tdesk\tand\twe\tshook\thands.\t\u201cSee\tyou\ttomorrow\tat\tgraduation.\u201d \u201cSee\tyou\ttomorrow,\tMr.\tTushman.\u201d","The\tLast\tPrecept This\t was\t written\t on\t Mr.\t Browne\u2019s\t chalkboard\t when\t we\t walked\t into\t English\t class\t for\t the\t last time: MR.\tBROWNE\u2019S\tJUNE\tPRECEPT: JUST\tFOLLOW\tTHE\tDAY\tAND\tREACH\tFOR\tTHE\tSUN! (The\tPolyphonic\tSpree) Have\ta\tgreat\tsummer\tvacation,\tClass\t5B! It\u2019s\t been\t a\t great\t year\t and\t you\u2019ve\t been\t a\t wonderful\t group\t of students. If\t you\t remember,\t please\t send\t me\t a\t postcard\t this\t summer\t with YOUR\t personal\t precept.\t It\t can\t be\t something\t you\t made\t up\t for yourself\t or\t something\t you\u2019ve\t read\t somewhere\t that\t means something\t to\t you.\t (If\t so,\t don\u2019t\t forget\t the\t attribution,\t please!)\t I really\tlook\tforward\tto\tgetting\tthem. Tom\tBrowne 563\tSebastian\tPlace Bronx,\tNY\t10053","The\tDrop-Off The\tgraduation\tceremony\twas\theld\tin\tthe\tBeecher\tPrep\tUpper\tSchool\tauditorium.\tIt\twas\tonly about\t a\t fifteen-minute\t walk\t from\t our\t house\t to\t the\t other\t campus\t building,\t but\t Dad\t drove\t me because\tI\twas\tall\tdressed\tup\tand\thad\ton\tnew\tshiny\tblack\tshoes\tthat\tweren\u2019t\tbroken\tin\tyet\tand I\t didn\u2019t\t want\t my\t feet\t to\t hurt.\t Students\t were\t supposed\t to\t arrive\t at\t the\t auditorium\t an\t hour before\t the\t ceremony\t started,\t but\t we\t got\t there\t even\t earlier,\t so\t we\t sat\t in\t the\t car\t and\t waited. Dad\t turned\t on\t the\t CD\t player,\t and\t our\t favorite\t song\t come\t on.\t We\t both\t smiled\t and\t started bobbing\tour\theads\tto\tthe\tmusic. Dad\t sang\t along\t with\t the\t song:\t \u201cAndy\t would\t bicycle\t across\t town\t in\t the\t rain\t to\t bring\t you candy.\u201d \u201cHey,\tis\tmy\ttie\ton\tstraight?\u201d\tI\tsaid. He\tlooked\tand\tstraightened\tit\ta\ttiny\tbit\tas\the\tkept\ton\tsinging:\t\u201cAnd\tJohn\twould\tbuy\tthe\tgown for\tyou\tto\twear\tto\tthe\tprom\t\u2026\u201d \u201cDoes\tmy\thair\t\tlook\tokay?\u201d\tI\tsaid. He\tsmiled\tand\tnodded.\t\u201cPerfect,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cYou\tlook\tgreat,\tAuggie.\u201d \u201cVia\t put\t some\t gel\t in\t it\t this\t morning,\u201d\t I\t said,\t pulling\t down\t the\t sun\t visor\t and\t looking\t in\t the little\tmirror.\t\u201cIt\tdoesn\u2019t\tlook\ttoo\tpuffy?\u201d \u201cNo,\tit\u2019s\tvery,\tvery\tcool,\tAuggie.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tyou\u2019ve\tever\thad\tit\tthis\tshort\tbefore,\thave\tyou?\u201d \u201cNo,\tI\tgot\tit\tcut\tyesterday.\tI\tthink\tit\tmakes\tme\tlook\tmore\tgrown-up,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u201d \u201cDefinitely!\u201d\t He\t was\t smiling,\t looking\t at\t me\t and\t nodding.\t \u201cBut\t I\u2019m\t the\t luckiest\t guy\t on\t the Lower\tEast\tSide,\t\u2019cause\tI\tgot\twheels,\tand\tyou\twant\tto\tgo\tfor\ta\tride.\u201d \u201cLook\tat\tyou,\tAuggie!\u201d\the\tsaid,\tsmiling\tfrom\tear\tto\tear.\t\u201cLook\tat\tyou,\tlooking\tso\tgrown-up\tand spiffy.\tI\tcan\u2019t\tbelieve\tyou\u2019re\tgraduating\tfrom\tthe\tfifth\tgrade!\u201d \u201cI\tknow,\tit\u2019s\tpretty\tawesome,\tright?\u201d\tI\tnodded. \u201cIt\tfeels\tlike\tjust\tyesterday\tthat\tyou\tstarted.\u201d \u201cRemember\tI\tstill\thad\tthat\tStar\tWars\t\tbraid\thanging\tfrom\tthe\tback\tof\tmy\thead?\u201d \u201cOh\tmy\tgosh,\tthat\u2019s\tright,\u201d\the\tsaid,\trubbing\this\tpalm\tover\this\tforehead. \u201cYou\thated\tthat\tbraid,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou,\tDad?\u201d \u201cHate\tis\ttoo\tstrong\ta\tword,\tbut\tI\tdefinitely\tdidn\u2019t\tlove\tit.\u201d \u201cYou\thated\tit,\tcome\ton,\tadmit\tit,\u201d\tI\tteased. \u201cNo,\t I\t didn\u2019t\t hate\t it.\u201d\t He\t smiled,\t shaking\t his\t head.\t \u201cBut\t I\t will\t admit\t to\t hating\t that\t astronaut helmet\tyou\tused\tto\twear,\tdo\tyou\tremember?\u201d \u201cThe\tone\tMiranda\tgave\tme?\tOf\tcourse\tI\tremember!\tI\tused\tto\twear\tthat\tthing\tall\tthe\ttime.\u201d \u201cGood\tGod,\tI\thated\tthat\tthing,\u201d\the\tlaughed,\talmost\tmore\tto\thimself. \u201cI\twas\tso\tbummed\twhen\tit\tgot\tlost,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cOh,\tit\tdidn\u2019t\tget\tlost,\u201d\the\tanswered\tcasually.\t\u201cI\tthrew\tit\tout.\u201d \u201cWait.\tWhat?\u201d\tI\tsaid.\tI\thonestly\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\tI\theard\thim\tright. \u201cThe\tday\tis\tbeautiful,\tand\tso\tare\tyou,\u201d\the\twas\tsinging. \u201cDad!\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tturning\tthe\tvolume\tdown.","\u201cWhat?\u201d\the\tsaid. \u201cYou\tthrew\tit\tout?!\u201d He\t finally\t looked\t at\t my\t face\t and\t saw\t how\t mad\t I\t was.\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t believe\t he\t was\t being\t so matter-of-fact\t about\t the\t whole\t thing.\t I\t mean,\t to\t me\t this\t was\t a\t major\t revelation,\t and\t he\t was acting\tlike\tit\twas\tno\tbig\tdeal. \u201cAuggie,\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tstand\tseeing\tthat\tthing\tcover\tyour\tface\tanymore,\u201d\the\tsaid\tclumsily. \u201cDad,\tI\tloved\tthat\thelmet!\tIt\tmeant\ta\tlot\tto\tme!\tI\twas\tbummed\tbeyond\tbelief\twhen\tit\tgot\tlost\u2014 don\u2019t\tyou\tremember?\u201d \t \u201cOf\t course\t I\t remember,\t Auggie,\u201d\t he\t said\t softly.\t \u201cOhh,\t Auggie,\t don\u2019t\t be\t mad.\t I\u2019m\t sorry.\t I\t just couldn\u2019t\t stand\t seeing\t you\t wear\t that\t thing\t on\t your\t head\t anymore,\t you\t know?\t I\t didn\u2019t\t think\t it was\tgood\tfor\tyou.\u201d\tHe\twas\ttrying\tto\tlook\tme\tin\tthe\teye,\tbut\tI\twouldn\u2019t\tlook\tat\thim. \u201cCome\t on,\t Auggie,\t please\t try\t to\t understand,\u201d\t he\t continued,\t putting\t his\t hand\t under\t my\t chin and\ttilting\tmy\tface\ttoward\thim.\t\u201cYou\twere\twearing\tthat\thelmet\tall\tthe\ttime.\tAnd\tthe\treal,\treal, real,\treal\ttruth\tis:\tI\tmissed\tseeing\tyour\tface,\tAuggie.\tI\tknow\tyou\tdon\u2019t\talways\tlove\tit,\tbut\tyou have\tto\tunderstand\t\u2026\tI\tlove\tit.\tI\tlove\tthis\tface\tof\tyours,\tAuggie,\tcompletely\tand\tpassionately. And\tit\tkind\tof\tbroke\tmy\theart\tthat\tyou\twere\talways\tcovering\tit\tup.\u201d He\twas\tsquinting\tat\tme\tlike\the\treally\twanted\tme\tto\tunderstand. \u201cDoes\tMom\tknow?\u201d\tI\tsaid. He\topened\this\teyes\twide.\t\u201cNo\tway.\tAre\tyou\tkidding?\tShe\twould\thave\tkilled\tme!\u201d \u201cShe\ttore\tthe\tplace\tapart\tlooking\tfor\tthat\thelmet,\tDad,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tmean,\tshe\tspent\tlike\ta\tweek looking\tfor\tit\tin\tevery\tcloset,\tin\tthe\tlaundry\troom,\teverywhere.\u201d \u201cI\tknow!\u201d\the\tsaid,\tnodding.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\twhy\tshe\u2019d\tkill\tme!\u201d And\tthen\the\tlooked\tat\tme,\tand\tsomething\tabout\this\texpression\tmade\tme\tstart\tlaughing,\twhich made\thim\topen\this\tmouth\twide\tlike\the\u2019d\tjust\trealized\tsomething. \u201cWait\ta\tminute,\tAuggie,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tpointing\this\tfinger\tat\tme.\t\u201cYou\thave\tto\tpromise\tme\tyou\twill never\ttell\tMommy\tanything\tabout\tthis.\u201d I\tsmiled\tand\trubbed\tmy\tpalms\ttogether\tlike\tI\twas\tabout\tto\tget\tvery\tgreedy. \u201cLet\u2019s\t see,\u201d\t I\t said,\t stroking\t my\t chin.\t \u201cI\u2019ll\t be\t wanting\t that\t new\t Xbox\t when\t it\t comes\t out\t next month.\t And\t I\u2019ll\t definitely\t be\t wanting\t my\t own\t car\t in\t about\t six\t years,\t a\t red\t Porsche\t would\t be nice,\tand\t\u2026\u201d He\t started\t laughing.\t I\t love\t it\t when\t I\u2019m\t the\t one\t who\t makes\t Dad\t laugh,\t since\t he\u2019s\t usually\t the funnyman\tthat\tgets\teverybody\telse\tlaughing. \u201cOh\tboy,\toh\tboy,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tshaking\this\thead.\t\u201cYou\treally\thave\tgrown\tup.\u201d The\tpart\tof\tthe\tsong\twe\tlove\tto\tsing\tthe\tmost\tstarted\tto\tplay,\tand\tI\tturned\tup\tthe\tvolume.\tWe both\tstarted\tsinging. \u201cI\u2019m\tthe\tugliest\tguy\ton\tthe\tLower\tEast\tSide,\tbut\tI\u2019ve\tgot\twheels\tand\tyou\twant\tto\tgo\tfor\ta\tride. Want\tto\tgo\tfor\ta\tride.\tWant\tto\tgo\tfor\ta\tride.\tWant\tto\tgo\tfor\ta\triiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide.\u201d We\t always\t sang\t this\t last\t part\t at\t the\t top\t of\t our\t lungs,\t trying\t to\t hold\t that\t last\t note\t as\t long\t as the\t guy\t who\t sang\t the\t song,\t which\t always\t made\t us\t crack\t up.\t While\t we\t were\t laughing,\t we noticed\tJack\thad\tarrived\tand\twas\twalking\tover\tto\tour\tcar.\tI\tstarted\tto\tget\tout. \u201cHold\ton,\u201d\tsaid\tDad.\t\u201cI\tjust\twant\tto\tmake\tsure\tyou\u2019ve\tforgiven\tme,\tokay?\u201d \u201cYes,\tI\tforgive\tyou.\u201d","He\tlooked\tat\tme\tgratefully.\t\u201cThank\tyou.\u201d \u201cBut\tdon\u2019t\tever\tthrow\tanything\telse\tof\tmine\tout\tagain\twithout\ttelling\tme!\u201d \u201cI\tpromise.\u201d I\topened\tthe\tdoor\tand\tgot\tout\tjust\tas\tJack\treached\tthe\tcar. \u201cHey,\tJack,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cHey,\tAuggie.\tHey,\tMr.\tPullman,\u201d\tsaid\tJack. \u201cHow\tyou\tdoin\u2019,\tJack?\u201d\tsaid\tDad. \u201cSee\tyou\tlater,\tDad,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tclosing\tthe\tdoor. \u201cGood\tluck,\tguys!\u201d\tDad\tcalled\tout,\trolling\tdown\tthe\tfront\twindow.\t\u201cSee\tyou\ton\tthe\tother\tside of\tfifth\tgrade!\u201d We\t waved\t as\t he\t turned\t on\t the\t ignition\t and\t started\t to\t pull\t away,\t but\t then\t I\t ran\t over\t and\t he stopped\tthe\tcar.\tI\tput\tmy\thead\tin\tthe\twindow\tso\tJack\twouldn\u2019t\thear\twhat\tI\twas\tsaying. \u201cCan\tyou\tguys\tnot\tkiss\tme\ta\tlot\tafter\tgraduation?\u201d\tI\tasked\tquietly.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tkind\tof\tembarrassing.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll\ttry\tmy\tbest.\u201d \u201cTell\tMom,\ttoo?\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tshe\u2019ll\tbe\table\tto\tresist,\tAuggie,\tbut\tI\u2019ll\tpass\tit\talong.\u201d \u201cBye,\tdear\tol\u2019\tDad.\u201d He\tsmiled.\t\u201cBye,\tmy\tson,\tmy\tson.\u201d","Take\tYour\tSeats,\tEveryone Jack\t and\t I\t walked\t right\t behind\t a\t couple\t of\t sixth\t graders\t into\t the\t building,\t and\t then\t followed them\tto\tthe\tauditorium. Mrs.\tG\twas\tat\tthe\tentrance,\thanding\tout\tthe\tprograms\tand\ttelling\tkids\twhere\tto\tgo. \u201cFifth\t graders\t down\t the\t aisle\t to\t the\t left,\u201d\t she\t said.\t \u201cSixth\t graders\t go\t to\t the\t right.\t Everyone come\t in.\t Come\t in.\t Good\t morning.\t Go\t to\t your\t staging\t areas.\t Fifth\t graders\t to\t the\t left,\t sixth grade\tto\tthe\tright\t\u2026\u201d The\t auditorium\t was\t huge\t inside.\t Big\t sparkly\t chandeliers.\t Red\t velvet\t walls.\t Rows\t and\t rows and\trows\tof\tcushioned\tseats\tleading\tup\tto\tthe\tgiant\tstage.\tWe\twalked\tdown\tthe\twide\taisle\tand followed\t the\t signs\t to\t the\t fifth-grade\t staging\t area,\t which\t was\t in\t a\t big\t room\t to\t the\t left\t of\t the stage.\tInside\twere\tfour\trows\tof\tfolding\tchairs\tfacing\tthe\tfront\tof\tthe\troom,\twhich\tis\twhere\tMs. Rubin\twas\tstanding,\twaving\tus\tin\tas\tsoon\tas\twe\twalked\tin\tthe\troom. \u201cOkay,\tkids,\ttake\tyour\tseats.\tTake\tyour\tseats,\u201d\tshe\twas\tsaying,\tpointing\tto\tthe\trows\tof\tchairs. \u201cDon\u2019t\t forget,\t you\u2019re\t sitting\t alphabetically.\t Come\t on,\t everybody,\t take\t your\t seats.\u201d\t Not\t too many\t kids\t had\t arrived\t yet,\t though,\t and\t the\t ones\t who\t had\t weren\u2019t\t listening\t to\t her.\t Me\t and Jack\twere\tsword-fighting\twith\tour\trolled-up\tprograms. \u201cHey,\tguys.\u201d It\t was\t Summer\t walking\t over\t to\t us.\t She\t was\t wearing\t a\t light\t pink\t dress\t and,\t I\t think,\t a\t little makeup. \u201cWow,\tSummer,\tyou\tlook\tawesome,\u201d\tI\ttold\ther,\tbecause\tshe\treally\tdid. \u201cReally?\tThanks,\tyou\tdo,\ttoo,\tAuggie.\u201d \u201cYeah,\t you\t look\t okay,\t Summer,\u201d\t said\t Jack,\t kind\t of\t matter-of-factly.\t And\t for\t the\t first\t time,\t I realized\tthat\tJack\thad\ta\tcrush\ton\ther. \u201cThis\tis\tso\texciting,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u201d\tsaid\tSummer. \u201cYeah,\tkind\tof,\u201d\tI\tanswered,\tnodding. \u201cOh\tman,\tlook\tat\tthis\tprogram,\u201d\tsaid\tJack,\tscratching\this\tforehead.\t\u201cWe\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tbe\there\tall freakin\u2019\tday.\u201d I\tlooked\tat\tmy\tprogram. Headmaster\u2019s\tOpening\tRemarks: Dr.\tHarold\tJansen Middle-School\tDirector\u2019s\tAddress: Mr.\tLawrence\tTushman \u201cLight\tand\tDay\u201d: Middle-School\tChoir Fifth-Grade\tStudent\tCommencement\tAddress: Ximena\tChin Pachelbel:\t\u201cCanon\tin\tD\u201d: Middle\t-School\tChamber\tMusic\tEnsemble Sixth-Grade\tStudent\tCommencement\tAddress:","Mark\tAntoniak \u201cUnder\tPressure\u201d: Middle-School\tChoir Middle-School\tDean\u2019s\tAddress: Ms.\tJennifer\tRubin Awards\tPresentation\t(see\tback) Roll\tCall\tof\tNames \u201cWhy\tdo\tyou\tthink\tthat?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cBecause\tMr.\tJansen\u2019s\tspeeches\tgo\ton\tforever,\u201d\tsaid\tJack.\t\u201cHe\u2019s\teven\tworse\tthan\tTushman!\u201d \u201cMy\tmom\tsaid\tshe\tactually\tdozed\toff\twhen\the\tspoke\tlast\tyear,\u201d\tSummer\tadded. \u201cWhat\u2019s\tthe\tawards\tpresentation?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cThat\u2019s\twhere\tthey\tgive\tmedals\tto\tthe\tbiggest\tbrainiacs,\u201d\tJack\tanswered.\t\u201cWhich\twould\tmean Charlotte\t and\t Ximena\t will\t win\t everything\t in\t the\t fifth\t grade,\t like\t they\t won\t everything\t in\t the fourth\tgrade\tand\tin\tthe\tthird\tgrade.\u201d \u201cNot\tin\tthe\tsecond\tgrade?\u201d\tI\tlaughed. \u201cThey\tdidn\u2019t\tgive\tthose\tawards\tout\tin\tthe\tsecond\tgrade,\u201d\the\tanswered. \u201cMaybe\tyou\u2019ll\twin\tthis\tyear,\u201d\tI\tjoked. \t \u201cNot\tunless\tthey\tgive\tawards\tfor\tthe\tmost\tCs!\u201d\the\tlaughed. \u201cEverybody,\t take\t your\t seats!\u201d\t Ms.\t Rubin\t started\t yelling\t louder\t now,\t like\t she\t was\t getting annoyed\t that\t nobody\t was\t listening.\t \u201cWe\t have\t a\t lot\t to\t get\t through,\t so\t take\t your\t seats.\t Don\u2019t forget\t you\u2019re\t sitting\t in\t alphabetical\t order!\t A\t through\t G\t is\t the\t first\t row!\t H\t through\t N\t is\t the second\trow;\tO\tthrough\tQ\tis\tthe\tthird\trow;\tR\tthrough\tZ\tis\tthe\tlast\trow.\tLet\u2019s\tgo,\tpeople.\u201d \u201cWe\tshould\tgo\tsit\tdown,\u201d\tsaid\tSummer,\twalking\ttoward\tthe\tfront\tsection. \u201cYou\tguys\tare\tdefinitely\tcoming\tover\tmy\thouse\tafter\tthis,\tright?\u201d\tI\tcalled\tout\tafter\ther. \u201cDefinitely!\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\ttaking\ther\tseat\tnext\tto\tXimena\tChin. \u201cWhen\tdid\tSummer\tget\tso\thot?\u201d\tJack\tmuttered\tin\tmy\tear. \u201cShut\tup,\tdude,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tlaughing\tas\twe\theaded\ttoward\tthe\tthird\trow. \u201cSeriously,\twhen\tdid\tthat\thappen?\u201d\the\twhispered,\ttaking\tthe\tseat\tnext\tto\tmine. \u201cMr.\tWill!\u201d\tMs.\tRubin\tshouted.\t\u201cLast\ttime\tI\tchecked,\tW\tcame\tbetween\tR\tand\tZ,\tyes?\u201d Jack\tlooked\tat\ther\tblankly. \u201cDude,\tyou\u2019re\tin\tthe\twrong\trow!\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cI\t am?\u201d\t And\t the\t face\t he\t made\t as\t he\t got\t up\t to\t leave,\t which\t was\t a\t mixture\t of\t looking completely\t confused\t and\t looking\t like\t he\u2019s\t just\t played\t a\t joke\t on\t someone,\t totally\t cracked\t me up.","A\tSimple\tThing About\t an\t hour\t later\t we\t were\t all\t seated\t in\t the\t giant\t auditorium\t waiting\t for\t Mr.\t Tushman\t to give\this\t\u201cmiddle-school\taddress.\u201d\tThe\tauditorium\twas\teven\tbigger\tthan\tI\timagined\tit\twould\tbe \u2014bigger\t even\t than\t the\t one\t at\t Via\u2019s\t school.\t I\t looked\t around,\t and\t there\t must\t have\t been\t a million\tpeople\tin\tthe\taudience.\tOkay,\tmaybe\tnot\ta\tmillion,\tbut\tdefinitely\ta\tlot. \u201cThank\t you,\t Headmaster\t Jansen,\t for\t those\t very\t kind\t words\t of\t introduction,\u201d\t said\t Mr. Tushman,\t standing\t behind\t the\t podium\t on\t the\t stage\t as\t he\t talked\t into\t the\t microphone. \u201cWelcome,\tmy\tfellow\tteachers\tand\tmembers\tof\tthe\tfaculty.\u2026 \u201cWelcome,\t parents\t and\t grandparents,\t friends\t and\t honored\t guests,\t and\t most\t especially, welcome\tto\tmy\tfifth-\tand\tsixth-grade\tstudents.\u2026 \u201cWelcome\tto\tthe\tBeecher\tPrep\tMiddle\tSchool\tgraduation\tceremonies!!!\u201d Everyone\tapplauded. \u201cEvery\t year,\u201d\t continued\t Mr.\t Tushman,\t reading\t from\t his\t notes\t with\t his\t reading\t glasses\t way down\t on\t the\t tip\t of\t his\t nose,\t \u201cI\t am\t charged\t with\t writing\t two\t commencement\t addresses:\t one for\tthe\tfifth-\tand\tsixth-grade\tgraduation\tceremony\ttoday,\tand\tone\tfor\tthe\tseventh-\tand\teighth- grade\t ceremony\t that\t will\t take\t place\t tomorrow.\t And\t every\t year\t I\t say\t to\t myself,\t Let\t me\t cut down\t on\t my\t work\t and\t write\t just\t one\t address\t that\t I\t can\t use\t for\t both\t situations.\t Seems\t like\t it shouldn\u2019t\tbe\tsuch\ta\thard\tthing\tto\tdo,\tright?\tAnd\tyet\teach\tyear\tI\tstill\tend\tup\twith\ttwo\tdifferent speeches,\tno\tmatter\twhat\tmy\tintentions,\tand\tI\tfinally\tfigured\tout\twhy\tthis\tyear.\tIt\u2019s\tnot,\tas\tyou might\tassume,\tsimply\tbecause\ttomorrow\tI\u2019ll\tbe\ttalking\tto\tan\tolder\tcrowd\twith\ta\tmiddle-school experience\t that\t is\t largely\t behind\t them\u2014whereas\t your\t middle-school\t experience\t is\t largely\t in front\tof\tyou.\tNo,\tI\tthink\tit\thas\tto\tdo\tmore\twith\tthis\tparticular\tage\tthat\tyou\tare\tright\tnow,\tthis particular\tmoment\tin\tyour\tlives\tthat,\teven\tafter\ttwenty\tyears\tof\tmy\tbeing\taround\tstudents\tthis age,\t still\t moves\t me.\t Because\t you\u2019re\t at\t the\t cusp,\t kids.\t You\u2019re\t at\t the\t edge\t between\t childhood and\teverything\tthat\tcomes\tafter.\tYou\u2019re\tin\ttransition. \u201cWe\tare\tall\tgathered\there\ttogether,\u201d\tMr.\tTushman\tcontinued,\ttaking\toff\this\tglasses\tand\tusing them\tto\tpoint\tat\tall\tof\tus\tin\tthe\taudience,\t\u201call\tyour\tfamilies,\tfriends,\tand\tteachers,\tto\tcelebrate not\t only\t your\t achievements\t of\t this\t past\t year,\t Beecher\t middle\t schoolers\u2014but\t your\t endless possibilities. \u201cWhen\t you\t reflect\t on\t this\t past\t year,\t I\t want\t you\t all\t to\t look\t at\t where\t you\t are\t now\t and\t where you\u2019ve\tbeen.\tYou\u2019ve\tall\tgotten\ta\tlittle\ttaller,\ta\tlittle\tstronger,\ta\tlittle\tsmarter\t\u2026\tI\thope.\u201d Here\tsome\tpeople\tin\tthe\taudience\tchuckled. \u201cBut\t the\t best\t way\t to\t measure\t how\t much\t you\u2019ve\t grown\t isn\u2019t\t by\t inches\t or\t the\t number\t of\t laps you\tcan\tnow\trun\taround\tthe\ttrack,\tor\teven\tyour\tgrade\tpoint\taverage\u2014though\tthose\tthings\tare important,\tto\tbe\tsure.\tIt\u2019s\twhat\tyou\u2019ve\tdone\twith\tyour\ttime,\thow\tyou\u2019ve\tchosen\tto\tspend\tyour days,\tand\twhom\tyou\thave\ttouched\tthis\tyear.\tThat,\tto\tme,\tis\tthe\tgreatest\tmeasure\tof\tsuccess. \u201cThere\u2019s\t a\t wonderful\t line\t in\t a\t book\t by\t J.\t M.\t Barrie\u2014and\t no,\t it\u2019s\t not\t Peter\t Pan,\t and\t I\u2019m\t not going\tto\task\tyou\tto\tclap\tif\tyou\tbelieve\tin\tfairies.\u2026\u201d Here\teveryone\tlaughed\tagain. \u201cBut\t in\t another\t book\t by\t J.\t M.\t Barrie\t called\t The\t Little\t White\t Bird\t \u2026\t he\t writes\t \u2026\u201d\t He\t started flipping\t through\t a\t small\t book\t on\t the\t podium\t until\t he\t found\t the\t page\t he\t was\t looking\t for,\t and then\the\tput\ton\this\treading\tglasses.\t\u201c\t\u2018Shall\twe\tmake\ta\tnew\trule\tof\tlife\t\u2026\talways\tto\ttry\tto\tbe\ta little\tkinder\tthan\tis\tnecessary?\u2019\t\u201d Here\tMr.\tTushman\tlooked\tup\tat\tthe\taudience.\t\u201cKinder\tthan\tis\tnecessary,\u201d\the\trepeated.\t\u201cWhat a\t marvelous\t line,\t isn\u2019t\t it?\t Kinder\t than\t is\t necessary.\t Because\t it\u2019s\t not\t enough\t to\t be\t kind.\t One should\tbe\tkinder\tthan\tneeded.\tWhy\tI\tlove\tthat\tline,\tthat\tconcept,\tis\tthat\tit\treminds\tme\tthat\twe carry\t with\t us,\t as\t human\t beings,\t not\t just\t the\t capacity\t to\t be\t kind,\t but\t the\t very\t choice\t of kindness.\tAnd\twhat\tdoes\tthat\tmean?\tHow\tis\tthat\tmeasured?\tYou\tcan\u2019t\tuse\ta\tyardstick.\tIt\u2019s\tlike I\t was\t saying\t just\t before:\t it\u2019s\t not\t like\t measuring\t how\t much\t you\u2019ve\t grown\t in\t a\t year.\t It\u2019s\t not exactly\tquantifiable,\tis\tit?\tHow\tdo\twe\tknow\twe\u2019ve\tbeen\tkind?\tWhat\tis\tbeing\tkind,\tanyway?\u201d","He\tput\ton\this\treading\tglasses\tagain\tand\tstarted\tflipping\tthrough\tanother\tsmall\tbook. \u201cThere\u2019s\tanother\tpassage\tin\ta\tdifferent\tbook\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tshare\twith\tyou,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cIf\tyou\u2019ll\tbear with\tme\twhile\tI\tfind\tit.\u2026\tAh,\there\twe\tgo.\tIn\tUnder\tthe\tEye\tof\tthe\tClock,\tby\tChristopher\tNolan, the\tmain\tcharacter\tis\ta\tyoung\tman\twho\tis\tfacing\tsome\textraordinary\tchallenges.\tThere\u2019s\tthis one\tpart\twhere\tsomeone\thelps\thim:\ta\tkid\tin\this\tclass.\tOn\tthe\tsurface,\tit\u2019s\ta\tsmall\tgesture.\tBut to\tthis\tyoung\tman,\twhose\tname\tis\tJoseph,\tit\u2019s\t\u2026\twell,\tif\tyou\u2019ll\tpermit\tme\t\u2026\u201d He\tcleared\this\tthroat\tand\tread\tfrom\tthe\tbook:\t\u201c\t\u2018It\twas\tat\tmoments\tsuch\tas\tthese\tthat\tJoseph recognized\tthe\tface\tof\tGod\tin\thuman\tform.\tIt\tglimmered\tin\ttheir\tkindness\tto\thim,\tit\tglowed\tin their\tkeenness,\tit\thinted\tin\ttheir\tcaring,\tindeed\tit\tcaressed\tin\ttheir\tgaze.\u2019\t\u201d He\tpaused\tand\ttook\toff\this\treading\tglasses\tagain. \u201cIt\tglimmered\tin\ttheir\tkindness\tto\thim,\u201d\the\trepeated,\tsmiling.\t\u201cSuch\ta\tsimple\tthing,\tkindness. Such\ta\tsimple\tthing.\tA\tnice\tword\tof\tencouragement\tgiven\twhen\tneeded.\tAn\tact\tof\tfriendship. A\tpassing\tsmile.\u201d He\tclosed\tthe\tbook,\tput\tit\tdown,\tand\tleaned\tforward\ton\tthe\tpodium. \u201cChildren,\twhat\tI\twant\tto\timpart\tto\tyou\ttoday\tis\tan\tunderstanding\tof\tthe\tvalue\tof\tthat\tsimple thing\t called\t kindness.\t And\t that\u2019s\t all\t I\t want\t to\t leave\t you\t with\t today.\t I\t know\t I\u2019m\t kind\t of infamous\tfor\tmy\t\u2026\tum\t\u2026\tverbosity\t\u2026\u201d Here\teverybody\tlaughed\tagain.\tI\tguess\the\tknew\the\twas\tknown\tfor\this\tlong\tspeeches. \u201c\u2026\t but\t what\t I\t want\t you,\t my\t students,\t to\t take\t away\t from\t your\t middle-school\t experience,\u201d\t he continued,\t \u201cis\t the\t sure\t knowledge\t that,\t in\t the\t future\t you\t make\t for\t yourselves,\t anything\t is possible.\t If\t every\t single\t person\t in\t this\t room\t made\t it\t a\t rule\t that\t wherever\t you\t are,\t whenever you\tcan,\tyou\twill\ttry\tto\tact\ta\tlittle\tkinder\tthan\tis\tnecessary\u2014the\tworld\treally\twould\tbe\ta\tbetter place.\t And\t if\t you\t do\t this,\t if\t you\t act\t just\t a\t little\t kinder\t than\t is\t necessary,\t someone\t else, somewhere,\tsomeday,\tmay\trecognize\tin\tyou,\tin\tevery\tsingle\tone\tof\tyou,\tthe\tface\tof\tGod.\u201d He\tpaused\tand\tshrugged. \u201cOr\twhatever\tpolitically\tcorrect\tspiritual\trepresentation\tof\tuniversal\tgoodness\tyou\thappen\tto believe\t in,\u201d\t he\t added\t quickly,\t smiling,\t which\t got\t a\t lot\t of\t laughs\t and\t loads\t of\t applause, especially\tfrom\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\tauditorium,\twhere\tthe\tparents\twere\tsitting.","Awards I\tliked\tMr.\tTushman\u2019s\tspeech,\tbut\tI\thave\tto\tadmit:\tI\tkind\tof\tzoned\tout\ta\tlittle\tduring\tsome\tof the\tother\tspeeches. I\ttuned\tin\tagain\tas\tMs.\tRubin\tstarted\treading\toff\tthe\tnames\tof\tthe\tkids\twho\u2019d\tmade\tthe\tHigh Honor\t Roll\t because\t we\t were\t supposed\t to\t stand\t up\t when\t our\t names\t were\t called.\t So\t I\t waited and\t listened\t for\t my\t name\t as\t she\t went\t down\t the\t list\t alphabetically.\t Reid\t Kingsley.\t Maya Markowitz.\t August\t Pullman.\t I\t stood\t up.\t Then\t when\t she\t finished\t reading\t off\t the\t names,\t she asked\tus\tall\tto\tface\tthe\taudience\tand\ttake\ta\tbow,\tand\teve\tryone\tapplauded. I\thad\tno\tidea\twhere\tin\tthat\thuge\tcrowd\tmy\tparents\tmight\tbe\tsitting.\tAll\tI\tcould\tsee\twere\tthe flashes\t of\t light\t from\t people\t taking\t photos\t and\t parents\t waving\t at\t their\t kids.\t I\t pictured\t Mom waving\tat\tme\tfrom\tsomewhere\teven\tthough\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\ther. Then\t Mr.\t Tushman\t came\t back\t to\t the\t podium\t to\t present\t the\t medals\t for\t academic\t excellence, and\t Jack\t was\t right:\t Ximena\t Chin\t won\t the\t gold\t medal\t for\t \u201coverall\t academic\t excellence\t in\t the fifth\t grade.\u201d\t Charlotte\t won\t the\t silver.\t Charlotte\t also\t won\t a\t gold\t medal\t for\t music.\t Amos\t won the\tmedal\tfor\toverall\texcellence\tin\tsports,\twhich\tI\twas\treally\thappy\tabout\tbecause,\tever\tsince the\t nature\t retreat,\t I\t considered\t Amos\t to\t be\t like\t one\t of\t my\t best\t friends\t in\t school.\t But\t I\t was really,\t really\t thrilled\t when\t Mr.\t Tushman\t called\t out\t Summer\u2019s\t name\t for\t the\t gold\t medal\t in creative\twriting.\tI\tsaw\tSummer\tput\ther\thand\tover\ther\tmouth\twhen\ther\tname\twas\tcalled,\tand when\tshe\twalked\tup\tonto\tthe\tstage,\tI\tyelled:\t\u201cWoo-hoo,\tSummer!\u201d\tas\tloudly\tas\tI\tcould,\tthough I\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tshe\theard\tme. After\t the\t last\t name\t was\t called,\t all\t the\t kids\t who\u2019d\t just\t won\t awards\t stood\t next\t to\t each\t other onstage,\tand\tMr.\tTushman\tsaid\tto\tthe\taudience:\t\u201cLadies\tand\tgentlemen,\tI\tam\tvery\thonored\tto present\tto\tyou\tthis\tyear\u2019s\tBeecher\tPrep\tSchool\tscholastic\tachievers.\tCongratulations\tto\tall\tof you!\u201d I\tapplauded\tas\tthe\tkids\tonstage\tbowed.\tI\twas\tso\thappy\tfor\tSummer. \u201cThe\t final\t award\t this\t morning,\u201d\t said\t Mr.\t Tushman,\t after\t the\t kids\t onstage\t had\t returned\t to their\t seats,\t \u201cis\t the\t Henry\t Ward\t Beecher\t medal\t to\t honor\t students\t who\t have\t been\t notable\t or exemplary\tin\tcertain\tareas\tthroughout\tthe\tschool\tyear.\tTypically,\tthis\tmedal\thas\tbeen\tour\tway of\tacknowledging\tvolunteerism\tor\tservice\tto\tthe\tschool.\u201d I\t immediately\t figured\t Charlotte\t would\t get\t this\t medal\t because\t she\t organized\t the\t coat\t drive this\tyear,\tso\tI\tkind\tof\tzoned\tout\ta\tbit\tagain.\tI\tlooked\tat\tmy\twatch:\t10:56.\tI\twas\tgetting\thungry for\tlunch\talready. \u201c\u2026\t Henry\t Ward\t Beecher\t was,\t of\t course,\t the\t nineteenth-century\t abolitionist\u2014and\t fiery sermonizer\t for\t human\t rights\u2014after\t whom\t this\t school\t was\t named,\u201d\t Mr.\t Tushman\t was\t saying when\tI\tstarted\tpaying\tattention\tagain. \u201cWhile\t reading\t up\t on\t his\t life\t in\t preparation\t for\t this\t award,\t I\t came\t upon\t a\t passage\t that\t he wrote\t that\t seemed\t particularly\t consistent\t with\t the\t themes\t I\t touched\t on\t earlier,\t themes\t I\u2019ve been\t ruminating\t upon\t all\t year\t long.\t Not\t just\t the\t nature\t of\t kindness,\t but\t the\t nature\t of\t one\u2019s kindness.\t The\t power\t of\t one\u2019s\t friendship.\t The\t test\t of\t one\u2019s\t character.\t The\t strength\t of\t one\u2019s courage\u2014\u201d And\t here\t the\t weirdest\t thing\t happened:\t Mr.\t Tushman\u2019s\t voice\t cracked\t a\t bit,\t like\t he\t got\t all choked\t up.\t He\t actually\t cleared\t his\t throat\t and\t took\t a\t big\t sip\t of\t water.\t I\t started\t paying attention,\tfor\treal\tnow,\tto\twhat\the\twas\tsaying. \u201cThe\t strength\t of\t one\u2019s\t courage,\u201d\t he\t repeated\t quietly,\t nodding\t and\t smiling.\t He\t held\t up\t his right\thand\tlike\the\twas\tcounting\toff.\t\u201cCourage.\tKindness.\tFriendship.\tCharacter.\tThese\tare\tthe qualities\tthat\tdefine\tus\tas\thuman\tbeings,\tand\tpropel\tus,\ton\toccasion,\tto\tgreatness.\tAnd\tthis\tis what\tthe\tHenry\tWard\tBeecher\tmedal\tis\tabout:\trecognizing\tgreatness. \u201cBut\t how\t do\t we\t do\t that?\t How\t do\t we\t measure\t something\t like\t greatness?\t Again,\t there\u2019s\t no yardstick\t for\t that\t kind\t of\t thing.\t How\t do\t we\t even\t define\t it?\t Well,\t Beecher\t actually\t had\t an answer\tfor\tthat.\u201d"]
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