That’s right Mr Meeres I’ll be in your school this fall In sixth grade Our old principal was really sick of kids so everyone’s glad you’re here We’re ready for a change if you know what I mean Don’t you think a principal should quit if he hates kids I sure do Anyhow it’s nice to meet you Mr Meeres blinked an amused smile touching touching his lips Yes I suppose a principal should like kids It’s nice to meet you too Nairen I’m glad Patrick took my advice and found a friend Patrick scowled at his father Nairen wants to show me around but I’ll stay if you need me Mr Meeres rolled his eyes Please Nairen get him out of my hair Here give me your book Just then a sickening crash came from inside the house Go he yelled to Patrick as he dove through the doorway Hey Marla Nairen called If mom asks I went to Mr Chin’s store with Patrick And to the library Oh Patrick meet Marla Marla this is Patrick 7
Marla stared into space and continued her relentless Hula-Hooping three hundred fifty three hundred fifty-one three hundred fifty-two Did she hear you asked Patrick as they walked along the sidewalk Oh she heard me all right Marla doesn’t let anything break her concentration Dad says that if Marla would concentrate on schoolwork like she does the Hula-Hoop she’d be another Albert Einstein Turning left at the first intersection Nairen led Patrick to a small white building huddled on one of the street corners A tin sign on the roof announced in bold green letters the corner store After the bright sunlight it seemed dark and cool inside Patrick breathed in the old-fashioned old-fashioned smell of oiled wooden floors Nairen steered Patrick toward the freezers Hey there Mr Chin she called to the small man behind the counter 8
Soon they were back outside sliding the wrappers wrappers off two ice cream bars But before Patrick could take a bite a voice stopped him cold Well look at this Eskimo Pies Wasn’t I just saying I wanted an Eskimo Pie Danny Patrick and Nairen wheeled around to face the voice Two boys one twice the size of the other leaned in cool comfort against the store The bigger bigger boy peeled himself away from the wall and strolled threateningly toward them Who’s this he asked planting himself inches away from Patrick Nairen cleared her throat uneasily Marion Trent Danny Plato Meet Patrick Meeres Patrick’s dad is our new principal Marion raised an eyebrow Hey Danny get over here and meet the principal’s kid The smaller boy scurried toward them He looked like a pint-sized hood In spite of the summer summer heat he wore a black leather jacket and his hair was greased back in a ducktail 9
Welcome to Waskasoo City Fatso Danny said Thanks loads Shrimp Patrick regretted the words even before they’d left his mouth Watch it Lard Butt Danny rushed forward and shoved Patrick hard in the chest Shrimp Marion said to himself and laughed I think you’re in trouble Danny Nicknames like that have a way of sticking to a guy Danny’s face blazed He balled up his fist and started for Patrick Suddenly the ground rocked Like the deck of a ship it rolled beneath them for several seconds while the din of shattering glass cut through the air 10
