A Tale of Two Tails by Henry Winkler

Author:Henry Winkler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2010-08-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

TEN THINGS MY BRAIN WAS SAYING AS I WALKED DOWN 78TH STREET

1. I can’t believe they quit.

2. I can’t believe they quit.

3. I can’t believe they quit.

4. They quit. I can’t believe it.

5. They actually quit. I can’t believe it.

6. Can you believe it? They quit.

7. Wait a minute. They actually quit.

8. Holy mackerel, they quit!

9. Have I told you that they really did quit?

10. I can’t believe they quit.

CHAPTER 13

As if the day hadn’t started badly enough, Ms. Adolf gave us a pop quiz on fractions. There were ten problems and I got one correct. It was one half plus one half, which I know equals a whole. The fact that I knew that made me so excited I can’t even explain it to you. Ms. Adolf didn’t share my excitement, though. She wrote a big red F on the top of my quiz, which, by the way, did not stand for Fantastic or Fabulous or Far Out.

There it was. Another F.

You know, my father says I’m lazy. Ms. Adolf says that I need to focus. Even my mom, who really tries to understand my learning differences, says I would do a lot better if I just applied myself to my schoolwork. What do they think? That I want to fail? That I’m doing this on purpose? I lie in bed at night, and I think to myself, Are you trying hard, Hank? And I promise you, I am.

Sometimes I think tomorrow, I’m going to try harder. And then tomorrow comes and my brain still can’t figure out fractions. Man, it’s frustrating.

So you can imagine how glad I was when the bell rang for lunch and I could wipe all thoughts of math and fractions and Fs out of my head. I grabbed my brown bag, because it wasn’t macaroni day, and headed for the lunchroom. By the time I got a milk and a dessert, Frankie and Ashley were already sitting at our usual table. What wasn’t usual was that Robert and Emily were there, too. All four of them were in a deep discussion.

“Hey, guys,” I said, sliding onto the bench next to Ashley. “This looks serious.”

“We’re having an important meeting, Hank,” Emily said.

“About what?” I said with a laugh. “Iguana toenail clippings?”

“Actually, yes,” Robert said. “Iguana grooming is the subject.”

“And no offense, dude, but it’s private,” Frankie said.

“Oh,” I said. “Okay. Don’t mind me, I’ll just sit here quietly.”

I reached into my brown bag and took out the plastic baggy that contained my sandwich. Soylami again! I held my nose and was about to take a bite, when suddenly I realized the four of them were staring at me in silence.

“What?” I said. “I did not make this sandwich. Trust me.”

“Hank,” Ashley began, shifting her eyes away from me. “This is a meeting of Team Katherine. And it really is private.”

“Meaning just us,” Frankie said.

“Meaning beat it, big brother,” Emily said.

“Why can’t I just sit here and eat my lunch? It’s not like I’m going to steal your lizard secrets or anything.

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