Jack Adrift by Jack Gantos

Author:Jack Gantos
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Published: 2011-04-13T04:00:00+00:00

By the next afternoon I had come up with a test. The three of us gathered in front of school, where I explained it. “There will be four categories—memory, inventions, sneakiness, and literature.”

“Does that mean I can write a song-song-song for the literature category?” Julian asked.

“Sure,” I said. “But no help from your dad.”

“Can I write a poem?” Pete asked.

“You can write a novel,” I said. “But first we have to work on the first category—memory. Now listen. The true sign of a genius is found in one universal factor,” I announced, “a photographic memory.”

“I have a great memory,” Julian declared, tapping himself on the side of his head. “I’m a living jukebox. I know every song lyric ever recorded.”

“I’ve never forgotten anything,” Pete bragged. “I even remember the moment I was born.”

“Well, let’s do a scientific test to determine if either of you has a genius memory,” I said. “Here’s how it’s going to work. Today, when we walk home from school I want you to memorize every step of the way—every shell you step on, every curb, every pile of sand, every smell, every direction we turn—everything. And then tomorrow I’ll blindfold you both and you’ll have to walk home alone and if you have a photographic memory you’ll have no problem. You’ll make it home safe and sound.”

“Okay,” Pete said, snapping his fingers. “Sounds easy.”

Julian smirked. “I can do that blindfolded and walking backward.”

“Whatever,” I said. “Now, let’s walk home and along the way remember everything.”

They walked home like dogs that had to stop and pee on every bush, every tree, every curb. They sniffed. They counted steps. They licked their fingers and held them up in the wind to mark its direction. It took us forever.

The next day after school I tied a red bandanna around Pete’s eyes and one around Julian’s. I stood them both on the exact spot in front of the flagpole where we had started the day before. “Ready?” I asked.

“Yes-yes-yes,” Julian said.

“Ditto,” Pete replied.

“Go!”

They started walking tentatively, with their hands held forward, squeezing at the air like blind lobsters. I watched as they slowly meandered across the school’s front yard and turned right on the sidewalk. They zigzagged around and past each other like two sailboats tacking back and forth. “No cheating,” I yelled out, tagging behind.

“Shut up,” Julian yelled back. “I’m concentrating!”

“Yeah,” Pete yelled. “All geniuses need mental solitude.”

“You’ll get plenty of that in a nut ward,” I shouted back.

Just then Miss Noelle pulled up beside me. “Hi,” she said, “need a ride home?”

Instantly I forgot all about Julian and Pete. “I’d love a ride home,” I said, sounding like Alfalfa having a meltdown in front of Darla. I got in and we zoomed off.

“Who were those two boys?” she asked. “They had their eyes covered up.”

“A couple of morons,” I replied. “I hardly know them. By the way, do you know I’m a genius?”

She looked at me and smiled. “In that case, I think you need some challenging homework,” she said thoughtfully.

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