She didn’t want to go to the Manusec School. She wished people didn’t think she was so smart.
“My name is Paula,” said the stewardess as Angeline sat down. “If there’s anything you want, just let me know.”
Angeline shook her head, then wiped her face with the back of her hand. She stared out the window. There was nothing she w
anted. Except … “Paula!” she called.
The stewardess came back to her.
“Do you know any good jokes?” asked Angeline.
4.
Floyd Hicks Junior High School was named after Floyd Hicks, a very wealthy and boring man who was born November 16, 1903, and died January 14, 1969. He donated the property on which the school was built. He also wrote a book about himself. There were ten copies in the school library, and no one, not even the librarian, had gotten past the second chapter.
But it was Floyd Hicks Junior High School, so every November 16 they celebrated Floyd Hicks Day in honor of the great man. This year there would be a talent show, which was ironic because Floyd Hicks had absolutely no talent.
The Spirit Club made posters, and Gary spotted one when he came to school.
CAN YOU SING? DANCE?
OR PLAY THE TUBA?
FLOYD HICKS WANTS YOU!
—IN THE TALENT SHOW
He went straight to the office.
The office was crowded with kids and adults all waiting to speak to Mrs. Walls, the school secretary, who was constantly being interrupted by the telephone. Gary waited nervously. “This is my big break,” he muttered.
“What?” said the woman beside him, who was holding a box.
Gary looked at her. “Huh?” he said.
The bell rang.
“Oh, great,” he said. “Now I’m late for class.”
“Are you talking to me?” asked the woman with the box.
“Huh?” said Gary.
He imagined himself up on stage in the auditorium, jokes rolling off his tongue, and the audience rolling in the aisles. Suddenly he’d become popular. Kids who had never talked to him before started hanging around, waiting for more of his jokes.
“Gary, you’re too much!” says Brenda Thompson, one of the more popular girls in the seventh grade.
“Just call me Goon,” he replies.
“Yes, Gary?” said Mrs. Walls.
“Just call me Goon,” he said.
Mrs. Walls stared at him.
He laughed, then said, “Uh, I want to sign up.”
“What?”