CHAPTER 12

Ethan

Famous agent Lucy LaRoux was annoyed with these kids quitting on her. She didn’t understand how wanting to lead a happy, normal life was more important than money. It was a ridiculous notion. She took a deep breath and went to the next student.

Now, if you know Ethan, you know he has a hard time making up his mind. When he found out he could be famous for something, he immediately thought of two different things but couldn’t decide which.

“I either want to be a basketball player or a daredevil stuntman,” Ethan explained to Lucy. “What do you think I would be better at?”

“Seriously?” Lucy asked. “Um, neither. You’re in a wheelchair.”

“EXCUSE ME?!” Ms. Linda and Sophia and Benji and Isabella and Mark roared at Lucy at the same time. They all crossed their arms and glared at her in outrage.

“Ethan can be anything he wants to be!” Ms. Linda said.

“And he can do anything he wants to!” Sophia added.

“You’re a horrible person,” added Benji.

“I agree. I am horrible!” Lucy smiled. “That’s what makes me such a good agent. As for you, Ethan, let’s go with daredevil stuntman. Show me what you’ve got.”

With Ace Agent Agency’s help, Ethan arranged a series of stunts, each bigger than the next.

First, he went down the highest roller coaster in the world—in his wheelchair. Next, he jumped over twenty cars and through twelve hoops of fire—in his wheelchair. After that, he walked a tightrope between two skyscrapers, eighty stories up—in his wheelchair.

Finally, he jumped out of a plane over Mount Everest in a wingsuit (you know, those things that make people look like they’re flying squirrels) and flew all the way down to the base of the mountain, where he landed gracefully—in his wheelchair.

People all over the world watched Ethan’s videos. They clapped and cheered and sent him emails asking how he did it. People made T-shirts and asked for his autograph. The whole time, Ethan was in his head, wondering if he’d made the right choice. After all, being a daredevil stuntman was cool, but playing basketball was even cooler.

“I guess you proved me wrong,” Lucy said. “Good job. Looks like we’re going to be in business together for a long time. What do you want to do next?”

“Continue proving you wrong,” Ethan said. “Let’s go play basketball.”