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show-off friend, Sebastian. I headed toward them, wondering how I could get the nerd alone so I could talk with him.
    But as soon as they spotted me, they turned off and dashed for the back door of the school. By the time I got there, they’d gone inside.
    Then the bell rang, so I went in, too. I started searching the halls. I knew I’d catch up with the nerd in my first class, but I wanted to talk to him right away.
    â€œHey, wait up.”
    I looked over my shoulder. It was Bud. “Not now,” I said.
    â€œWhy’d you run off?” he asked.
    â€œI’ll tell you later.”
    The bell rang. I rushed into class. The nerd was already at his seat. I headed toward him.
    â€œOkay, everyone,” Mr. Phermat said. “Let’s get settled. Take your seats. There’ll be no talking during the test.”
    Oh man. I sat down and tried to get the nerd’s attention. He didn’t even look my way. He seemed happy to be taking a test.
    It would have to wait until the end of class. I looked at the test. Man. There weren’t even any airplane problems. It was all trains and cars and stuff. I’d bet Mr. Phermat did it that way just to make sure I’d flunk.
    I’d show him. I got out my pencil and tried my best. But it was no use. The problems didn’t make any more sense than they ever did. Worst of all, I was trying so hard, I didn’t even hear the bell. The next thing I knew, Mr. Phermat was standing at my desk, taking my test paper from me. I looked around. The nerd had already gone. He’d probably been the first one to hand in his test.
    I left the class and checked the hall. The nerd was far ahead. He stopped at the end of the hall and looked around. Then he ducked into the boys’ room. Perfect. I’d finally be able to talk to him. I went down the hall and followed him in. By then, he was at the sink, washing his hands. A blast of hot air hit me. The radiator was stuck, so it was on all year round.
    As the door closed behind me, the nerd glanced over. His eyes locked on me for a second with a look of so much fear that I laughed. I couldn’t help it. He turned his head away.
    I walked over to him. He tried to dash past me.
    â€œNot so fast,” I said, putting out a hand to block him.
    He leaped back, his eyes darting around the room. Then he started talking to himself. “I knew I should have waited until I got home. It was only three more hours. I knew it. I could have waited.”
    â€œStop babbling,” I said.
    â€œYeah. Absolutely. No more babbling.” He nodded, then jammed his hand in his right front pocket and pulled out a bunch of change. “Here, that’s my lunch money. Take it. If it’s not enough, I’ll get more.”
    â€œI don’t want your money,” I said.
    â€œHomework?” he asked, holding up his notebook. “It would never pass as yours, but you’re welcome to it.”
    â€œNo.” I smacked the notebook out of his hand. “I don’t want your stupid homework.”
    He scrunched his eyes real tight. “Just make it quick. Okay? Alacrity would be appreciated. Get it over with. Don’t break my glasses. Mom really hates when that happens.”
    â€œI’m not going to hurt you!” I yelled. Though it was going to be a hard promise to keep.
    He opened one eye. “Then what is the purpose of this encounter?”
    â€œHelp me,” I said.
    â€œWith what?”
    I reached down and pulled up the front of my shirt.
    He screamed and leaped away like a human cricket. I thought he was going to jump through the little window at the back wall—the thick frosted one. But instead, his face changed. All of a sudden, he turned from a cricket to an owl.
    â€œChitinous exoskeletal material extruding cilia…,” he said, taking a step toward me. He reached out a hand and said, “May I?”
    â€œYeah. Sure.”
    He lifted one of the hairs, poked at