IT HAD NEVER BEEN THIS WINDY IN THE TREE HOUSE before. Calvin and Emmet were doing homework there, as was their habit, after checking in with Mrs. Clawson, the Geauxs’ next-door neighbor. Apollo stayed at the Geauxs’ during the day, and Emmet usually took him for a walk after school. After that they did homework or, if they didn’t have any, played video games or sometimes took their books up into the tree house and studied there.

Dr. Doyle had Emmet coming here with Calvin most days since school started. Emmet wasn’t sure, but he thought it had something to do with the fact that his dad and Dr. Geaux were having so many dinners together. In fact, they usually came home from work together, and then the four of them would all eat as a group, either at one of their homes or at a restaurant. Emmet didn’t really have time or even want to think about that yet.

Calvin didn’t seem to mind him coming over so much. Of course Calvin probably wouldn’t mind if a hoard of rampaging Vikings captured him and pulled out his toenails. Emmet was sure if that happened Calvin would just shrug and say, “They’ll grow back.” Calvin was slowly getting back to normal at school. At lunch he sat at the table with Emmet, Riley, and Raeburn, and sometimes he even participated in the conversation. And it was Calvin who politely kept anyone else from sitting in Stuke’s seat until he returned to school.

Apollo didn’t like the tree house much. They hadn’t figured out a way to safely get him up to their lair. While they were up above he barked and whined and tried to climb up the trunk, until he decided to punish them by ignoring their existence. He would curl up beneath the tree and sleep until they came down. Even if they could get him up safely, knowing Apollo, he would leap through the screen as soon as he saw a bird. Apollo was not aware of his limitations. Especially the one about dogs not being able to fly.

Emmet had become very fond of Calvin’s little hideaway. Somehow, being up above the ground with the tree gently swaying, he gained a little freedom and clarity. Except when he was mad about something. Like today.

“Is this thing safe in this wind?” Emmet asked. The boards were creaking and the branches were really swaying.

“Yes,” Calvin answered.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Did you file the proper building permits?”

“Yes,” Calvin said, not looking up from his math homework.

He was about to say “Seriously?” but then Emmet remembered he was talking with Calvin. Calvin filed a flight plan with the FAA if he made a paper airplane.

“Dude, what is going on?” Emmet asked.

“What? Nothing,” Calvin said. He looked up from his math homework with a sour look.

“I don’t want to get all up in your business, but ever since you came back from visiting your family, you’ve been a little …”

“A little what?”

“Morose. We did vocab in language arts today, third hour. Morose was on the list,” Emmet said.

“What’s morose? We didn’t do that vocab yet.”

“Gloomy.”

“I’m not gloomy.”

“No. You’re more fun than a platter of bacon.”

“Do you always have to make a joke out of everything?” Calvin sighed.

“Yes. It’s my thing. We’ve discussed this. But I’m sorry. I just thought maybe something was bothering you. I’m all ready to go into a full-fledged rant, but you don’t seem like you’re in the mood. So I thought we’d have an Oprah moment and see if you’ve got something you want to get off your chest.”

Calvin flipped over onto his back and looked up at the roof of the tree house.

“Sorry if I’ve been morose,” he said. Emmet waited, but he didn’t say anything else.

“It’s okay. I just figured you got into some kind of family thing or something. My grandparents and my cousins live a long way away and I never saw them that much, anyway, but my mom and dad were always talking about ‘family drama.’ People get worked up over that stuff.”

“It’s not that,” Calvin said. “It’s just … You can’t tell anyone this … especially my mom. She’d get all upset. And she has enough on her plate.”

“Calvin, I promise, not a word to anyone. Not even your mom. Unless you’re going to run away and join the circus or something. That’s never a good idea.” Emmet grimaced because he couldn’t help himself sometimes. He made a mental note to rein it in. Soon.

“I turn thirteen next year,” Calvin said. “In the old days it was different, and now each tribal group does things their own way, but in our clan, when a Seminole boy turns thirteen, there’s a ceremony where you are given your name. It’s … Usually your father picks it, and there’s a feast and stuff. And …”

“And your dad won’t be there,” Emmet said, understanding.

“Right,” Calvin said quietly.

“Calvin — and this is a serious question — what do you mean, ‘given your name’? Don’t you already have one? I don’t understand.”

“Calvin is my legal name. When you are a Seminole you can have several names during your life. Most of the old warriors’ and chiefs’ names could and did change based on their accomplishments, or things they did to benefit the tribe. If they won a great battle or defeated a mighty enemy, for instance. But your first real Seminole name is usually given when you’re around thirteen. And it’s chosen by your father.”

“All right. I get it,” Emmet said. “But here is another real question. I’m not a big history buff or anything, but I know the Seminoles and most American Indians got treated pretty badly. I’m talking about disease and wars and stuff. So there must have been other Seminole boys who didn’t have fathers when it was time for this ceremony. Can’t a relative stand in? A grandparent or an uncle?”

“Yeah. My grandfather died, and my dad was an only child. One of my great-uncles probably will. But it won’t be the same,” Calvin said.

“No, it won’t,” Emmet said. “Not ever.”

A few moments of silence passed, and then Calvin asked, “What did you want to rant about?”

“What? Oh, that. It’s nothing, really,” Emmet said.

“It’s okay. I don’t feel morose anymore. Actually, an Emmet rant would sound pretty good right about now.”

“I might not stop, once I get started,” Emmet warned.

“Do you ever?”

“Hah! You should do stand-up. Like stand up and walk away,” Emmet said.

“You’re going to tell me anyway, though, right?” Calvin asked.

“Of course. It’s about Dr. Newton,” Emmet said.