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Casey.
    â€œSee nothing, I feel,” Mike said, massaging his right hand with his left. “That’s a wicked grip you’ve got.”
    â€œYeah, and it’s going to get a lot wickeder over the summer. That’s something I work on when I’m watching TV.”
    â€œI’m going to get me one of those squeeze things, so you watch out — by the end of the summer we’ll see who’s strongest.”
    Mike’s locker door slammed as he said, “You hear about the party old prissy pants, Greta Maitland, is giving Friday night?” he asked. “We’re all invited to her family’s big house for supper and a dance. I can just see it. The girls will likely have to wear little white gloves and we’ll be expected to wear shirts and ties.”
    â€œYou have got to be kidding!” Casey was appalled. “Did they really say that’s what we have to wear?”
    â€œWell, no,” Mike admitted. “But can’t you just imagine it?”
    â€œAll we have to do is make sure nobody wears a shirt and tie. There’s no way the Maitlands are going to kick out all the boys. Greta wouldn’t allow it — she likes boys too much.”
    â€œI haven’t said that I was going to go yet,” said Mike. “Can’t we have some sort of year-end celebration of our own?”
    â€œOkay by me. I don’t think I’ve been invited anyway,” Casey said.
    â€œYes you have,” Mike told him. “Greta got up in home room and invited the whole class.”
    â€œBut maybe nobody told me,” Casey said hopefully. “How about we head out to the Old Willson With Two L’s Place and party?”
    â€œYou been out there since that hate gang was turfed?” Mike wondered.
    â€œNo,” Casey said. “Have you?”
    â€œNo,” said Mike. “My folks heard about what went on there last fall and put it off limits.”
    â€œMine too,” said Casey. “But they wouldn’t have to know. We could take out a bunch of stuff to eat and an iPod and some wood for a fire. It’d beat the heck out of a party at the Maitlands’.”
    â€œWho else will we ask?” Mike was warming up to the idea.
    â€œAny guys who haven’t told Greta they’d be there,” Casey said. “We’ll ask around, subtle like. Not tell the others what we have in mind until we know they’re free.”
    By Thursday they knew. Every other boy in the class had told Greta they’d be at her party.
    â€œStill want to go to the Willson place if it’s just the two of us?” asked Mike.
    â€œI do if you do,” Casey said. “I’ll bring my new iPod. And I’ll bring a litre of Coke and some chips and a dip.”
    â€œI’ve got two albums you haven’t heard, and I’ll bring doughnuts,” said Mike.
    â€œWe’ll need wood for the fire.” Casey was remembering how he’d burned up everything he could find in the house trying to keep Mr. Deverell and himself warm the night he went there last fall.
    â€œI got wood,” said Mike.
    â€œSounds good.” Casey figured it could be fun. “Now all we have to do is get that English exam over tomorrow afternoon and — CELEBRATION TIME!”
    ***
    â€œMom,” said Casey as he headed out the back door, “I don’t know how late I’ll be.”
    â€œBe home fifteen minutes after Greta’s party’s over. You know your father’s rules,” his mother said. Casey winced. His mother just assumed he was going to Greta’s, and he hadn’t told her the truth.
    â€œBut Dad’s not here,” Casey told her. “What say you set some new rules — just for tonight?”
    â€œSure.” His mother smiled. “Be home twenty minutes after the party’s over.”
    â€œOh, Mom.” Casey hitched on his backpack. He knew his mother wouldn’t question him about