“I did! But she didn’t realize I’d quit, so she didn’t do anything to put me back in.”
Miss Langley sighed. “Why weren’t you at the rehearsal this afternoon?”
“I didn’t know about it.”
Miss Langley shook her head. “Well, I can’t do anything about it now. The programs are all printed. I’m afraid it’s too late.”
“But—”
I’m sorry, Gary, I’ve got a million things to do.” She resumed her conversation with Mrs. Ward about the opening address Mrs. Ward would be giving.
Gary spotted Joe coming into the auditorium, along with Matt, Ryan, and Paul.
“Joe!” called Gary. He jumped off the stage. “Joe. You got to help me!”
Joe put his hands up. “Whoa,” he said. “Get a grip, Goon.” He looked Gary up and down. “Nice uni.”
“Huh?”
“He likes your clothes, Goon,” said Matt. “Your uniform.”
“So what seems to be the problem?” asked Joe.
Gary took a breath, then went through it again. “Okay, I was going to be in the show, right? You know that. That’s why I didn’t play football. But I told Miss Langley I wanted to quit, but then I told her I wanted to be back in, but she said to talk to Brenda Thompson, so I talked to Brenda, but she didn’t even know I ever quit, so she didn’t put me back on the list, and now Miss Langley says it’s too late.”
“Okay, okay,” said Joe. “Just chill out. I’ll go have a chat with Nancy.”
“Nancy?” asked Gary.
“Nancy Langley,” said Matt.
Gary returned to his seat next to Fred Furst while Joe talked to Miss Langley.
He couldn’t believe this was happening. “Why is it always me?” he asked.
His parents were going to be there, and Abel, Gus, Mr. Bone, and that kid Mr. Bone was bringing to run the video camera. Now what was that kid going to think?
Ryan came up alongside him. “Your butt better be in the show,” he said.
Julie turned around and made a face at Ryan. “Every other word you say is ‘butt.’ ”
“So?” asked Ryan. “What’s wrong with that?”
Joe returned, thumbs up. “You’re in, Goon.”
Gary could hardly believe it.
“Nancy didn’t mean it was too late for you to be in the show. She just meant it was too late to be in the program.”
“I hope he’s first,” said Fred Furst.
“Sorry, Freddy boy,” said Joe. “Last.”
“That’s okay, Joey boy,” Fred said snidely.
Miss Langley came by a short while later and asked Gary how he wanted to be introduced.
“Just my name, Gary W. Boone.”