CHAPTER 10

After the assembly, all the kids gathered around me, asking about what happens next in my story.

“Where do all the space bugs go?” Katie asked.

“Do Sarah and James blast them into outer space with their laser beams?” Ryan asked.

“I bet their blood is green and slimy, like snot,” Luke Whitman said.

I have to admit, it was fun to be in the spotlight. I hadn’t gotten so much attention since I threw up cake frosting at my four-year-old birthday party. Boy, that was messy. One minute, no one was looking at me. The next, everybody was running at me with paper towels.

I lowered my voice and told all the kids to lean in close. I didn’t expect them to get that close.

“Hey, guys, give the man some breathing room,” Frankie said.

“Yes,” Ashley added. “Hank’s creativity needs space.”

“Okay,” I began, “here’s what happens next. The space bugs start to vibrate and make a high sound like a screeching siren. Then a rock turtle, found only on Jupiter, falls from the ceiling of the cave. This kind of turtle has no shell, just dry, cracked skin.”

“Eeuuw,” said Katie Sperling. “That’s gross.”

“You haven’t heard anything yet,” I said. “The space bugs sting the turtle, and hair sprouts from its skin and eyeballs. It looks like it has a shell of hair.”

“A hair shell,” said Luke Whitman. “That’s cool.”

From the corner of my eye, I could see Ms. Adolf stomping over to us. I knew I had to wrap up the story fast.

“So then, the space bugs swarm underneath the turtle and lift it off the ground. They carry it deep into the darkness of the cave, and it was never seen again.”

Unfortunately, Ms. Adolf heard that last part of my story. Let’s just say she wasn’t a fan of hairy turtles.

“Henry,” she said sternly. “Principal Love is waiting for you in front of the WELCOME, PAULA HART sign. Now follow me, and stop wasting time.”

“Come on, Zip,” Frankie said. “This is when we get our picture with Paula Hart.”

He didn’t have to say that twice. I was super ready.

“I’ve got to go,” I said to all the kids. “I’ll tell you more later.”

Frankie, Ashley, and I hurried down the hall after Ms. Adolf. Principal Love was standing in front of the colorful welcome sign, chatting with Paula and holding his camera.

“Hey, kids,” Paula said. “Was that assembly fun, or what?”

“The most fun ever,” I answered, and I meant it.

“Let’s get on with the picture,” Principal Love said. “Ms. Hart has a plane to catch. She’s visiting another school in Seattle.”

“Lucky kids,” Ashley said.

“Ms. Hart, you stand in the middle, and kids, you gather around her,” Principal Love suggested. As I took my place next to Paula, I started to smell something bad, like someone had burped up a rotten banana. It didn’t seem like a burp that Paula Hart would make. It was more like a Nick the Tick burp.

Oh no!

I turned around and there he was, in all his stinky rotten banana-ness.

“I thought I’d come and add some good looks to this picture,” McKelty said. As the words came out of his mouth, so did his hot breath all over my neck.

“You’re not invited, Nick,” Frankie said.

“Please step to the side, Nicholas,” Ms. Adolf snapped.

“Fine with me,” McKelty answered. “I don’t want to be in a picture with Zipperbutt, anyway. His face is going to break the camera.”

That did it for me. I had been feeling so good from the assembly, and I wasn’t about to let this turkey ruin my moment, my day, or my year.

“You know what I think, McKelty?” I said. “I think you’re mean right down to your toes. You must know what it feels like to be called names. I don’t understand why you call me names every single day. All I know is it stops here and now.”

“Way to stand up for yourself,” Paula Hart whispered, giving me a fist bump.

“I’m going to call you anything I want,” McKelty said, putting his nose in my face. “And there’s nothing you can do about it.”

“Here’s what I can do about it,” Principal Love said. “I’m going to put you in detention for a week with Ms. Adolf. She’ll teach you how to control your mouth. Won’t you, Ms. Adolf?”

“Oh, you can count on it,” she snarled. “Come with me, Nicholas. I have many wastebaskets for you to empty. And that’s just the beginning.”

As Ms. Adolf guided McKelty back to her classroom, Nick the Tick shot me a look that said, “I’m tough.” But I shot a look right back that said, “I’m tougher.”

We took about ten pictures with Paula. The first few were regular. Then Paula suggested that we all make a scared face. Then a surprised face. Then a funny face. Then a goofy face. Then it was time for her to go.

Just before she left, she hugged each of us. When it was time for my hug, she whispered in my ear.

“I believe in you, Hank,” she said.

Then she swooped off, her giraffe dress and pink boots disappearing down the hall.

I knew I would never forget her.