The Nerdy and the Dirty by B. T. Gottfred

Author:B. T. Gottfred
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

33

BENEDICT

After Penelope said the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me, I entertained the possibility that she was lying or, worse, trying to fool me. (Evil Benny certainly voted for this possibility.) But no, I don’t think so. I really don’t think so.

I think … yes, perhaps …

I’m not sure. I’m very confused. A week ago, I was very confident that I was the smartest person in the world, with the possible exception of my father. Yes, Evil Benny tried to undermine this. But I always put Evil Benny in his proper place. Then Robert dumped me as his friend, and I got beaten up by Paul and his friends, and my father wanted to fire me as his son. And then I believed I was the opposite of smart. I was the weakest, dumbest person in all of school.

Then, last night, I was on the brink of losing my mind, so I admitted what I had long denied: that I had social problems. Except now one of the most popular girls in the junior class was telling me I shouldn’t change. That I should be exactly the way I had always been.

But before I could ask her to explain further what she meant, or say thank you, or say anything because it’s nice to acknowledge someone who has spoken so eloquently and kindly, Penelope pushed past me and skied ahead. Skied very well, I must say. I determined she wasn’t going to fall again. She suddenly looked like an Olympic skier! Not precisely, but it was faster than I could ski. Was she trying to get away from me? Because I hadn’t said anything?

“Pen!” I yelled after her. Again and again. But she kept skiing and we moved deeper into the woods. I was getting better, faster. I must really want to catch up to her to be learning so quickly.

That’s a hill ahead, I believe. I really don’t want Penelope going over that hill. “PEN!” But she didn’t stop and so I didn’t stop. I was descending, plunging, down the hill. Were my skis even on the ground? They must be. But it felt as if I might be flying. My stomach rushed upward into my lungs and exploded. Not literally.

Pen was going to crash and I didn’t want her to crash alone, so I followed her right into the tree.

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