On Stevie’s second day of school, he was sitting all by himself, and Bones called him over. They talked for the whole lunch period. I know this because I had to sit through it. That’s when they both realized they lived in the same apartment complex. You would have thought that they both won the lottery.

Impostolu didn’t like the fact that Stevie was smarter than her, so any chance she got to reprimand him, she took it. “Mr. Ching, please stop with your frantic scribbling while the other students are trying to concentrate.”

Stevie always apologized. “I . . . very sorry, Mrs. Pasta Zoo!” The class erupted in laughter. He never said her name right. Sometimes I think he knew what he was doing. I liked that.

Then the bell rang. And three things were certain.

Summer was here. Annie Kratzer was still the prettiest girl ever. And I had bombed the test and was headed to summer school.

Challenge Question!

Page 11