A New School Year The fi rst day of school found Greg running around his room gathering all of his school supplies He snatched up folders and notebooks trying his best to ignore that his stomach was doing somersaults Hurry up Greg Grandpa Joe called He and James hoisted Charles’s wheelchair into the minivan We’re going to be late Greg and his sister April lived in the Trinidad community of Washington DC They lived with their grandparents and cousins James and Charles 4
For the past few months Greg had worked hard to help his neighbors and earn some extra money His efforts had earned him the name Greg the Good But now it was time for school again I don’t care if we’re late James muttered 5
James be quiet Grandpa snapped Finally Greg came out He hurried in the van behind James and slammed the door shut Grandpa Greg began buckling his seat belt I thought about it and I don’t want to skip to the sixth grade Nonsense Grandpa said smiling You’re just nervous You worked very hard last year and you were able to advance to the sixth grade You don’t think that’s a good thing It is Greg shrugged But I’m only eleven and the other kids will be bigger and the work will be harder James sucked his teeth He was a year older than Greg but in the same class Don’t be such a crybaby he told Greg He placed his hands behind his head and 6
leaned back on the headrest Besides it’s not so bad Yeah because you’re repeating the sixth grade April called from the passenger seat It will probably seem like a breeze She started to laugh And Greg is in your grade It must be embarrassing to repeat a grade and to have your younger cousin skip and be in your classes You must really be stupid Alright you two Grandpa warned Grandpa pulled up to the curb along the school Then he faced Greg You’ll be fi ne Grandpa said How about you give it a week If you still feel uncertain we will talk with the principal about placing you in the fi fth grade 7
