Chapter 17

Sweat trickled down my arm as I looked out over the other kids’ faces. They were still giggling at Jeff’s story.

Bryce may not get nervous in front of the class, but I sure do. I don’t know why. It was just a stupid story. I tried to act calm, which only made my paper shake. I hate when that happens.

Everybody laughed when I did dumb things that held Dad up in my story. Mrs. Ferguson seemed perplexed. Every other story had shown kids (and ferrets) doing superhuman things—winning skateboard competitions, catching gigantic fish, and playing professional sports. My story was the only one where a kid actually messed up.

When I got to the end and my dad hugged me, some kids gasped. Everyone knew what had really happened to him. Mrs. Ferguson just stared at her desk while I returned to my seat.

Bryce smiled.