SPILLING (SOME OF) THE BEANS

So that’s when I told Matty everything.

Well, not everything. I didn’t mention Leo. There aren’t too many people I trust in the world, besides Mom (and Leo, of course), but even if there were, I wouldn’t exactly start off by telling them about my imaginary best friend.

Still, I did tell him about my dad, and why we went to Hairy’s, and even about Operation: Get a Life.

I thought Matty might laugh or something when I was done talking, but he didn’t even flinch.

“And you’re doing all that just so you can stay at Cathedral School of the Farts for another year?” he said. “How come?”

“Don’t you like it there?” I said.

“Compared to what? I mean, it’s better than regular school. But, dude—it’s still school.”

I thought that was a pretty good answer. In fact, the more I got to know this kid, the more I liked him.

“You know what?” Matty said. “Forget about Hairy. Forget about all that stuff. You want to live a little? Come on.”

He was already walking back toward the bus stop. And then he was running again. Now it was my turn to try to keep up.

“Where are we going?” I said.

Matty didn’t even look back. He just kept running.

“Everywhere!” he said.