Absolutely Almost(64)

            I thought that was a weird thing to say. Because I never thought before about being a mom as something you had to try at, like math or spelling. Being a mom was just something you were.

            “I only want you to be safe,” she said, still talking slow. “That’s all I want for you. Safe and happy.”

            I wanted to be mad at her. I wanted to be so, so mad.

            “I know,” I said. I wriggled my arms out from under the covers and set them on top. “But maybe you don’t have to worry about me so much all the time.”

            “Oh, Albie,” Mom said, leaning over close for another kiss on my forehead. “Of course I do. I’m your mother.”





new kid.




            There was a new kid in school. Darissa, that was her name. I knew because even though she had a different teacher, she was in math club, like me.

            “Albie,” Mr. Clifton said when he was introducing her to the class, “would you like to be Darissa’s buddy this week?”

            “Buddy?” I said.

            “Sure.” He showed Darissa to her seat, the one right next to mine. “Make sure she knows where the nurse’s office is, maybe hang out with her during recess, that sort of thing.”

            “Okay,” I said. “I guess.”

            “She’s new to the city too, so maybe you can give her some helpful pointers.”

            I raised my eyebrows at that. I had loads of helpful pointers.

            Darissa smiled a friendly smile at me as she scooched into her desk.

            “Don’t worry,” Mr. Clifton told her before he walked back to the front of the room. “You’re in good hands with Albie.”

            I smiled back at the new girl. “I’ll tell you everything you need to know,” I said.





what got

into me.




            On Science Friday, it was Betsy’s turn to bring something in. She brought in a bug she found hiding under a bench in her apartment lobby. It was a “boxelder bug,” she said. She’d looked it up. It was big and mostly black with some bright red marks, and awesome gross red eyes. It was still alive, in a big empty pickle jar. Betsy had poked holes in the lid, and she had some twigs in there and grass, for it to eat, I guess.

            It was pretty cool. Maybe not as cool as Darren’s dad’s bug that he brought in, but it was still alive, which was way better. She went through the aisles so we could all look at it, and when she got to Darren and Sage, they tried to pretend like they weren’t interested, but you could tell they really were.

            She skipped right past my desk. I think it was probably on purpose, since Betsy seemed like she was still mad at me.

            When it was time for questions, I kept raising my hand, but Betsy didn’t call on me, only Tasha in the front row. Darren kept laughing every time Betsy answered a question, and making fake stuttering noises to Sage. He was sort of quiet so Mrs. Rouse couldn’t hear, but I heard it. I think Betsy did too.

            I wish she would’ve called on me when I had my hand up. I wanted to tell her I thought her bug was the coolest one I ever saw.

            Then again, maybe it was good she didn’t call on me. I don’t think Betsy likes things that are cool.

            • • •

            It happened at recess. Darren stole Betsy’s bug, right out of her hands. I saw it from where I was sitting, at the bench, showing the new girl Darissa my Captain Underpants book (which was what I normally read during recess, because of not having any friends). Well, first I heard Betsy shouting, and then I saw that Darren had the bug in the pickle jar, and then I figured out that he’d taken it.