Chapter Nineteen

The next morning, I walk toward the entrance of the school with the determination of a crab that won’t give up. While it feels cooler outside and I have to wear a jacket and scarf, I feel fiery hot inside.

Last night Stanley and I were able to launch an egg from a ladder in my backyard, and it didn’t break. I called everyone about Saturday’s Sea Musketeers meeting, too. They all agreed to come to my house for the next meeting. With that handled, I feel like I can manage everything today. I’m confident that we’re going to ace this project and that we’re going to deal with Ben the bully once and for all.

Unfortunately, I don’t get to take on Ben right away. I am prepared to, too. I have my game face on. I feel like a luchadora ready to pounce in the wrestling ring. Instead, once the bell rings, Ms. Benedetto has us put our jackets back on. Then she takes us to the top of the school for our egg drop. We are wasting no time before getting started.

Other than a wall around the edge of the roof and some boxy equipment, there isn’t much to look at. But still, we feel very special to be standing on top of the school.

“I didn’t even know we could get up here!” Jenny shouts.

“This is only for special occasions and, of course, with teacher supervision,” replies Ms. Benedetto, her teeth chattering a little. She adds softly, “I guess the cold front came in early.”

We huddle beside Ms. Benedetto against the wall, staying close together so she can keep an eye on us, but more for the warmth. We look over the edge. While we’re only one story off the ground, it still looks awfully far down to the pavement below. I can also see Mr. Don, our custodian, bundled up on the ground waving up at us. We wave back.

“Why is Mr. Don out there?” asks Chris.

“This might be a little messy, and we don’t want to leave raw eggs on the ground,” Ms. Benedetto explains. “Plus, he’s going to give us the thumbs-up if it worked or not.”

Then she hands each team an egg from the egg carton, and we insert them into our devices.

It’s the perfect amount. One dozen eggs for one dozen teams, I think to myself.

Then I look over the edge again. From this height, I start to have doubts about our dear Humpty’s well-being.

“Who wants to go first?” Ms. Benedetto asks, rubbing her hands together to stay warm.

Before I can say anything, Stanley says, “Stella and I will go first.”

I gulp. I guess it’s time. I hold our egg holder made out of toilet paper rolls over the edge while Stanley prepares the parachute.

“Okay, on my count,” he says. “One … two … three.”

I let go.

I can barely look as our egg falls to the ground. I cover part of my eyes.

“Did he survive?” I ask Stanley.

Ms. Benedetto looks down at Mr. Don. After what seems like forever, she gets the thumbs-up from Mr. Don. Humpty survived!

“Hooray!” we exclaim, and then we give each other a big hug.

“Ooooh … Stanley hugged his girlfriend!” exclaims Ben.

He starts making kissing noises with his mouth. He’s being so loud the whole class can hear him. It’s hard not to when we’re all so close together.

I look around to see how everyone else is reacting, but Jeremy is the only one snickering. The rest of the group looks confused or annoyed.

“Ben Shaw, stop that immediately. I will not tolerate that kind of distracting and mean behavior in my classroom,” says Ms. Benedetto. She says it in such a stern voice that everyone in the class is taken aback.

Ben’s face gets white.

I take the opportunity to say something.

“Ben keeps saying that Stanley and I like like each other,” I say, looking at Ms. Benedetto. “But that’s not true; we’re just friends.”

“Is that so?” Ms. Benedetto asks Ben.

Ben looks at the ground and doesn’t respond.

“Well, class. Let me clear this up for you. We are no longer in the Victorian era, or even the twentieth century. It’s the twenty-first century, and girls and boys at any age can be friends.”

She continues, “And you and I, Ben, are going to have a chat about this later.”

I feel relieved. It’s over for now. I also realize that Stanley and I should have just brought it up to Ms. Benedetto earlier. Sometimes a problem is too big to handle on your own.

“Now let’s keep going. It’s freezing!” says Ms. Benedetto.