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he’s ever had. I couldn’t believe he would perform without me. I just couldn’t believe it.
    â€œI saw their names written down on the sign-up sheet,” Emily said. “It said An Island Magic Trick by Frankie Townsend with the assistance of Miss Ashley Wong .”
    â€œThat does it! I’m going to the luau, too,” I declared right then and there. “We’ll just add my name to the sign-up sheet. Do we have to bring our own sleeping bags?”
    â€œNot so fast, young man,” my dad piped up, swallowing a mouthful of Spanish rice. “This is a privilege you haven’t earned yet.”
    â€œBut, Dad, they’re getting to have so much fun. And all I get to do is a stupid report on a famous person I admire.”
    â€œThat sounds most interesting, Hank.”
    â€œOh, right! Mr. Rock tells me I should do a report on Albert Einstein, and I don’t even have a clue who this guy is, so how can it be interesting to admire someone you don’t even know?”
    â€œAlbert Einstein discovered the theory of relativity,” Robert the walking encyclopedia spewed out. “I’m so sorry I never got to discuss that with him in person.”
    â€œI’ll find out where he lives and you can go visit him,” I snapped.
    â€œHe’s dead,” Emily said.
    â€œI knew that.”
    I got up from the table and headed for my room without even asking to be excused. I didn’t need to be corrected by my little sister in front of Robert the Bony and Bruce the Invisible Gecko.
    â€œStanley,” my mom said, “don’t you think if Hank shows us he’s really trying, we could consider letting him attend the luau? I mean, he does try as hard as he can.”
    I stopped dead in my tracks. Mothers. They can be so great, especially mine.
    There was a long silence as my dad thought about her suggestion.
    â€œWell, Randi,” he said at last, “I suppose we could consider it.”
    Now is the time to strike, Hankster! Beg if you have to.
    â€œI’ll do anything, Dad. Anything. Just tell me what.”
    â€œIf you bring me a good grade on your Albert Einstein report, I’ll let you go to the luau,” my dad said.
    â€œHow good? Like a C-plus good?”
    He shook his head.
    â€œB-minus?”
    He shook it again.
    â€œI think you’re capable of getting an A,” he said.
    That taco must have gone to his head and clogged up his memory.
    â€œIt’s me, Dad. Hank. The not-A student. The not-even-B student. The C student if I’m really lucky and the teacher’s in a good mood, but mostly the D student. Do you know how hard it would be for me to get an A?”
    â€œYou have to reach for the stars, young man. That’s the only way you’ll achieve. I want to make sure you live up to your potential.”
    My dad pushed his chair back and put his napkin on the table. Something told me that this conversation was ending, whether I liked it or not.
    An A on my report. Could I do it?
    I had to. There was no way I was going to let that talent show happen without me.
    Okay, Mister Albert Einstein. It’s you and me. We’re going all the way to the luau.
    Just one question: Who the heck are you?

CHAPTER 10
    RIGHT AFTER DINNER, I called Frankie.
    â€œMeet me in the clubhouse in five minutes,” I said. “And bring Ashweena.”
    â€œI’m all over it,” Frankie said.
    I took the elevator to the basement and walked down the hall as fast as I could to our clubhouse, which is through the second door on the right. Wait a minute. Did I say the second door on the right? Yes, I did. And guess what? It truly is the second door on the right! This is amazing. I, who don’t know my right from my left, just told you how to get to our clubhouse. I’ll see you there!
    I was the first to arrive. I reached around the door and switched on the light before going in. It can get a little weird in there,