TIPS FOR SURVIVAL

Flash forward!

If I tried to write down everything that happened during that first quarter at Cathedral, you’d need a wheelbarrow to carry this book around. So I’m going to skip over some stuff.

The short version is this: I spent a lot of time just getting used to my new school, new home, new city—and I learned a ton, usually the hard way. Here are some handy FYIs, just in case you ever find yourself in the same situation.

NUMBER ONE

When you’re the only boy in a small house with one grandmother, one mother, one sister, and one bathroom, all I can say is—learn how to be patient. Oh, and plan ahead.

NUMBER TWO

Art isn’t easy! It turns out there are just as many rules for making art in art school as there are for anything else. If you don’t believe me, just try holding your paintbrush the wrong way in Mrs. Grundewald’s class sometime, and see what happens.

NUMBER THREE

Art school is smart school. As far as I can tell, most of the kids at Cathedral were born with a math book in one hand and an extra brain in the other. So if you’re a dummy like me, don’t expect to blend in! (And just in case you’re wondering, the answer is yes, all those famous dead artists had to learn pre-algebra too. At least, that’s what Mr. Frum told me when I asked.)

NUMBER FOUR

You want to live in the big city? Man up! People here will walk right over you if you let them…

… so don’t let them.

NUMBER FIVE

What are you listening to me for? If you’ve been paying attention, then you’ll know that your best bet is to very carefully watch everything I do—and then do exactly the opposite. Because my paths tend to lead to trouble.

(Just don’t say I never warned you.)

Okay, got it? Good.

Oh, and you’re welcome.