Wonder Chapter 2 (Pages 15-30)

Summary

The script follows a young boy named August who is about to start at a new school, Beecher Prep. He meets the school's director, Mr. Tushman, and his assistant, Mrs. Garcia, before being introduced to his future classmates. August is nervous about making friends and fitting in, especially due to his facial differences. His new peers, Jack, Julian, and Charlotte, give him a tour of the school, during which Julian asks insensitive questions about his appearance. Despite the awkwardness, August connects with Jack, who acknowledges his smile, offering a glimmer of hope for friendship.

Takeaways

• 😄 The protagonist, August, is nervous about meeting Mr. Tushman and students from the new school due to his facial differences.
• 😅 August's initial impression of Mr. Tushman is influenced by his father's jokes, but he finds Mr. Tushman to be a normal, nice person.
• 👣 August and his mother visit Beecher Prep, where August is about to start school, and they meet various staff members including Mrs. Garcia.
• 🤗 Mrs. Garcia, the assistant, tries to make August feel comfortable, but her initial reaction to his appearance is noticeable, though she quickly recovers.
• 🏫 August is introduced to the concept of homeroom and the various school facilities, such as the science lab and performance space.
• 🤔 August's unfamiliarity with school routines is highlighted, as he doesn't understand what a homeroom is and has been homeschooled by his mother.
• 👦👧 August meets three students, Jack, Julian, and Charlotte, who are assigned to show him around the school before the school year starts.
• 😕 Julian makes insensitive comments about August's appearance, revealing a lack of understanding and empathy.
• 👍 Charlotte is supportive and tries to answer August's questions, providing explanations about school routines and electives.
• 😡 Julian's rude questioning about August's face causes tension, but Charlotte defends August and confronts Julian's insensitivity.
• 📚 The school tour includes a visit to the auditorium, where Charlotte shares her experience of performing in a school play.

Q & A

Who is Mr. Tushman and what is his role in the story?

Mr. Tushman is the Middle School Director at Beecher Prep, the school August, the protagonist, is about to attend. He is responsible for introducing August to the school environment and helping him transition into his new educational setting.

Why was August nervous about meeting Mr. Tushman and the new students?

August was nervous about meeting Mr. Tushman and the new students because he was not only new to the school but also had physical differences that made him feel self-conscious. His previous homeschooling experience had not exposed him to such social situations.

What was August's first impression of Mr. Tushman?

August's first impression of Mr. Tushman was that he was a normal-looking guy, tall and thin, and not as old as he had imagined. He found Mr. Tushman to be nice and approachable, contrary to the jokes his father had made about his name.

How did Mrs. Garcia's initial reaction to meeting August affect him?

Mrs. Garcia's initial reaction, where her eyes dropped for a second, made August feel self-conscious about his appearance. However, he later appreciated her warmth and reassurance that she would take good care of him.

What is the significance of the framed painting that August thought was a pumpkin?

The painting that August thought was a pumpkin turned out to be a portrait of Mr. Tushman, which served as a humorous moment in the script, highlighting Mr. Tushman's ability to laugh at himself and making August feel more comfortable.

Why did Julian question August's ability to handle the science elective?

Julian questioned August's ability to handle the science elective because he was unaware of August's homeschooling background and assumed that since August had never been to a school before, he might not be academically prepared for a challenging course.

What does the interaction between the students and August during the school tour reveal about their attitudes?

The interaction reveals that while Charlotte is friendly and tries to include August, Julian exhibits a mix of curiosity and insensitivity, and Jack Will seems indifferent but eventually shows a moment of understanding and kindness.

What is the significance of August's smile to Jack Will?

August's smile is significant to Jack Will because it shows a moment of connection between them. Despite August's facial differences, Jack Will recognizes the smile and responds in kind, indicating a potential friendship or at least a level of empathy.

Why did August's mother decide to have him meet the students before the school year started?

August's mother and Mr. Tushman thought it would be beneficial for him to meet some students before school started to help him feel more comfortable and integrated into the school environment.

What does the script suggest about the social dynamics August might face at his new school?

The script suggests that August might face a range of reactions from his peers, from curiosity and potential friendship to insensitivity and possible ostracization due to his physical appearance.

How does the script use humor to lighten the mood and make August's situation more relatable?

The script uses humor through Mr. Tushman's self-deprecating jokes about his name and the pumpkin painting, as well as August's internal thoughts, to create a lighter tone and make the story more engaging and relatable to the reader.

Outlines

00:00

😄 First Encounter with Mr. Tushman

The narrator, August, describes his initial encounter with Mr. Tushman at Beecher Prep. Initially nervous due to his father's jokes about Mr. Tushman's name, August finds him to be a normal, friendly man contrary to his expectations. They exchange pleasantries, and Mr. Tushman shows interest in August's hobbies and potential science electives. August's mother encourages him to be more outgoing, and Mr. Tushman assures a tour of the school, which August was unaware of, causing some initial reluctance.

05:00

😃 Meeting Mrs. G and the School's Director

August is introduced to Mrs. Garcia, who runs the school, and Mr. Tushman, the middle school director. Mrs. Garcia is friendly and assures August's mother that they will take good care of him. August notices a change in Mrs. Garcia's smile and her interaction with a photograph of her grandson. Mr. Tushman's office is filled with student artwork and interesting items, making a positive impression on August. They discuss the school's structure, including the role of homeroom and electives, with a humorous moment about a student artwork that resembles a pumpkin.

10:02

😐 Introducing August to His Future Classmates

Mr. Tushman arranges for August to meet his future classmates: Jack, Julian, and Charlotte. They are initially awkward and do not engage much with August. The students are instructed to give August a tour of the school, starting from his homeroom on the third floor. There is a brief discussion about the school's science lab and the teachers, with Charlotte defending her sister's opinion of a teacher against Julian's hearsay.

15:05

🤔 August's First School Tour with New Acquaintances

The group takes August on a tour of the school, explaining what each room is used for, including the science lab and the homeroom. Julian and Charlotte have a minor disagreement about the teachers. August feels uncomfortable and out of place, especially when Julian avoids physical contact and asks insensitive questions about his appearance. Jack Will tries to lighten the mood, and Charlotte attempts to be more inclusive, explaining what homeroom is and assuring August that he will understand the school's routines.

20:07

😕 Tensions Rise During the School Tour

As the tour continues, Julian's curiosity about August's facial differences leads to an insensitive question, causing tension. Charlotte defends August, explaining that he was born with his appearance. Julian challenges August's decision to take the science elective, questioning his academic abilities due to his homeschooling background. Charlotte tries to move the conversation forward, suggesting that August could participate in school activities in various ways, not just through performance.

25:07

😡 Julian's Insensitivity and Jack Will's Support

The tour ends with Julian's continued insensitivity, as he blocks August's path and asks about the cause of his facial differences. Jack Will intervenes, showing support for August and acknowledging Julian's rudeness. There is a moment of connection between August and Jack Will when August smiles, and Jack Will recognizes and reciprocates it. The group moves on to the library, leaving the tension behind, with Charlotte trying to maintain a positive atmosphere.

Keywords

💡Homeschooling

Homeschooling refers to the practice of providing education at home instead of enrolling students in formal schools. In the script, the main character, August, has been homeschooled, which is a significant aspect of his background and influences his first experiences in a traditional school setting. His lack of familiarity with school routines and interactions is evident when he asks about the concept of 'homeroom' and his nervousness about meeting new students.

💡Mumbling

Mumbling is the act of speaking softly or unclearly, often making it difficult for others to understand what is being said. In the script, August admits to having a bad habit of mumbling, which is a personal trait that affects his communication with others, such as when he introduces himself to Mr. Tushman and later when interacting with his new classmates.

💡Elective

An elective is a course that students can choose to take based on their interests, as opposed to required courses. In the context of the video, Mr. Tushman mentions science electives to August, indicating that Beecher Prep offers students choices in their curriculum. August's interest in science and his decision to potentially take a science elective highlights his academic preferences and the opportunities available to him in this new educational environment.

💡Homeroom

A homeroom is a class or group that students belong to for administrative purposes, such as attendance and announcements, at the beginning of the school day. The concept of homeroom is new to August, and Charlotte explains its function in the school day, emphasizing the structured nature of school life which is unfamiliar to him as a homeschooled student.

💡Nervousness

Nervousness is a feeling of anxiety or apprehension, often in response to a new or challenging situation. August's nervousness is a recurring theme in the script, as he experiences it when meeting Mr. Tushman, Mrs. Garcia, and his new classmates. His emotions are palpable as he navigates the unfamiliar social dynamics of a traditional school.

💡Stereotyping

Stereotyping is the act of making assumptions about a person or group based on preconceived notions, rather than individual characteristics. Julian exhibits stereotyping when he questions August's ability to handle a science elective due to his homeschooling background and makes assumptions about his appearance, reflecting a lack of understanding or empathy.

💡Inclusion

Inclusion refers to the act of involving and welcoming all individuals, including those who may be different or have unique needs. The script explores the theme of inclusion through the characters' interactions with August, who has a facial difference. The school's staff and some students, like Charlotte, make efforts to include and support August, demonstrating the importance of creating an inclusive environment.

💡Appearance

Appearance relates to the way a person or thing looks, especially in terms of physical characteristics. August's appearance is a central theme in the script, as it sets him apart from his peers and influences their reactions to him. The dialogue and descriptions highlight how others perceive and respond to his facial difference, which shapes his experiences and relationships at the new school.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. Charlotte shows empathy towards August by explaining school procedures, defending him against Julian's insensitive questions, and offering him opportunities to participate in school activities. Her actions contrast with Julian's lack of empathy and highlight the importance of compassionate behavior in social interactions.

💡Bullying

Bullying is the use of force, coercion, or threat to abuse or intimidate others. While not overtly aggressive, Julian's line of questioning and comments about August's appearance and abilities have the potential to be hurtful and could be considered a form of verbal bullying. The script addresses the issue of bullying by showing how such behavior can affect individuals like August.

💡Adaptation

Adaptation is the process of adjusting to new conditions or environments. August's journey in the script is one of adaptation as he moves from a familiar homeschooling setting to the unfamiliar environment of Beecher Prep. His interactions with the school staff and students, as well as his internal thoughts, illustrate the challenges and growth associated with adapting to a new social and academic context.

Highlights

Meeting Mr. Tushman and initial nervousness.

August's giggles at Mr. Tushman's name.

Description of Mr. Tushman's appearance.

First impressions and greetings with Mr. Tushman.

Mr. Tushman kneels to speak to August.

August's reaction to the school environment.

Introduction to Mrs. Garcia, the middle school director.

Mrs. Garcia's initial reaction to August.

Mrs. Garcia's warm interaction with August.

Mrs. Garcia's grandson and personal touch.

August realizes his mom's nervousness.

Introduction to Jack Will, Julian, and Charlotte.

Tour of the school begins.

Description of the science lab.

Julian's behavior and comments during the tour.

Charlotte's talk about the school play.

Julian's rude question about August's face.

Jack's supportive gesture to August.

August's reaction to Julian's behavior.

Conclusion of the tour with a conflict.

Transcripts

paging mr tushman

i would have been more nervous about

meeting mr tushman if i'd known i was

also going to be meeting some kids from

the new school

but i didn't know so if anything i was

kind of giggly i couldn't stop

thinking about all the jokes daddy had

made about mr tushman's name

so when me and mom arrived at beecher

prep a few weeks before the start of

school

and i saw mr tushman standing there

waiting for us

at the entrance i started giggling right

away

he didn't look at all like what i

pictured though i guess i thought he

would have a huge butt

but he didn't in fact he was a pretty

normal guy tall and thin

old but not really old he seemed nice

he shook my mom's hand first hi mr

tushman

it's so nice to see you again sid mom

this is my son august

mr tushman looked right at me and smiled

and nodded

he put his hand out for me to shake hi

august

he said totally normally it's a pleasure

to meet you

hi i mumbled dropping my hand into his

hand while he looked down at his feet

he was wearing red adidas

so he said kneeling down in front of me

so i couldn't look at his sneakers but

had to look at his face

your mom and dad have told me a lot

about you

like what if they told you i asked

sorry honey you have to speak up

said mom like what

i asked trying not to mumble i admit i

have a bad habit of mumbling

well that you like to read said mr

tushman

and that you're a great artist he had

blue eyes with white eyelashes

and you're into science right uh-huh

i said nodding we have a couple of great

science electives that beat her he said

maybe you'll take one of them uh-huh i

said though i had no idea what an

elective was

so are you ready to take a tour

you mean we're doing that now i said

did you think we were going to the

movies he answered smiling as he stood

up

you didn't tell me we were taking a tour

i said to mom in my accusing voice

auggie she started to say it'll be fine

august

said mr tushman holding his hand out to

me

i promise i think he wanted me to take

his hand but

i took mom's instead he smiled and

started walking toward the entrance

mommy gave my hand a little squeeze

though i don't know if it was an i love

you squeeze

or and i'm sorry squeeze probably a

little of both

the only school i've ever been inside

before was vias

when i went with mom and dad to watch

via sing in spring concerts and stuff

like that

this school was very different it was

smaller

it smelled like a hospital

nice mrs garcia we followed mr tushman

down a few hallways

there weren't a lot of people around and

the few people who were there didn't

seem to notice me at all

though that may have been because they

didn't see me

i sort of hid behind mom as i walked

i know that sounds kind of babyish of me

but i wasn't feeling very brave right

then

we ended up in a small room with the

words office of the middle school

director on the door

inside there was a desk with a nice

seeming lady sitting behind it

this is mrs garcia said mr tushman

and the lady smiled at mom and took off

her glasses

and got up out of her chair my mother

shook her hand and said

isabelle pullman nice to meet you

and this is august mr tushman said

mom kind of stepped to the side a bit so

i would move forward

then that thing happened that i've seen

happen a million times before

when i looked up at her mrs garcia's

eyes

dropped for a second it was so fast no

one else would have noticed

since the rest of her face stayed

exactly the same

she was smiling a really shiny smile

such a pleasure to meet you august she

said holding out her hand for me to

shake

hi i said quietly giving her my hand

but i didn't want to look at her face so

i kept staring at her glasses

which hung from a chain around her neck

wow

what a firm grip said mrs garcia

her hand was really warm the kids got a

killer handshake mr tuschman agreed

and everyone laughed above my head

you can call me mrs g mrs garcia said

i think she was talking to me but i was

looking at all this stuff on her desk

now

that's what everyone calls me mrs g i

forgot my combination

mrs g i need a late pass mrs g

i want to change my elective mrs g's

actually the one who runs the place said

mr tushman

which again made all the grown-ups laugh

i'm here every morning by 7 30 mrs

garcia continued

still looking at me while i stared at

her brown sandals

with small purple flowers on the buckles

so if you ever need anything august i'm

the one to ask

and you can ask me anything

okay i mumbled

oh look at that cute baby mom said

pointing to one of the photographs on

mrs garcia's bulletin board

is he yours no my goodness said mrs

garcia smiling

a big smile now that was totally

different from her shiny smile

you've just made my day he's my grandson

what a cutie said mom shaking her head

how old

in that picture he was five months i

think but he's big now

almost eight years old wow said mom

nodding and smiling well he is

absolutely beautiful

thank you said mrs garcia nodding like

she was about to say something else

about her grandson

but then all of a sudden her smile got a

little smaller

we're all going to take very good care

of august she said to mom

and i saw her give mom's hand a little

squeeze

i looked at mom's face and that's when i

realized

she was just as nervous as i was

i guess i liked mrs garcia when she

wasn't wearing her shiny smile

jack will julian and charlotte

we followed mr tushman into a small room

across from mrs garcia's desk

he was talking as he closed the door to

his office and sat down behind his big

desk

though i wasn't really paying much

attention to what he was saying

i was looking around at all the things

on his desk

cool stuff like a globe that floated in

the air

and a rubik's type cube made with little

mirrors

i liked his office a lot i liked that

there were all these neat little

drawings and paintings by students on

the walls

framed like they were important mom sat

down in a chair in front of mr tushman's

desk

and even though there was another chair

right next to hers i decided to stand

beside her

why do you have your own room and mrs g

doesn't i said

you mean why do i have an office as mr

tushman

you said she runs the place i said oh

well i was kind of kidding mrs g is my

assistant

mr tushman is the director of the middle

school mom explained

do they call you mr t i asked which made

him smile

do you know who mr t is he answered

i'd pity the fool he said in a funny

tough voice

like he was imitating someone i had no

idea what he was talking about

anyway no said mr tushman shaking his

head

no one calls me mr t though i have a

feeling

i'm called a lot of other things i don't

know about

let's face it a name like mine is not so

easy to live with

you know what i mean here i have to

admit i

totally laughed because i knew exactly

what he meant

my mom and dad had a teacher called miss

but

i said auggie said mom

but mr tushman laughed now

that's bad said mr tushman shaking his

head

i guess i shouldn't complain hey

so listen august here's what i thought

we would do today

is that a pumpkin i said pointing to a

framed painting behind mr tushman's desk

auggie sweetie don't interrupt said mom

you like it said mr tushman turning

around and looking at the painting

i do too and i thought it was a pumpkin

too

until the student who gave it to me

explained that is

actually not a pumpkin it is

are you ready for this a portrait of me

now august i ask you do i

really look that much like a pumpkin

no i answered oh i was thinking yes

something about the way his cheeks

puffed out when he smiled made him look

like a jack-o-lantern

just as i thought that it occurred to me

how funny that was

cheeks mr tushman and i started laughing

a little

i shook my head and covered my mouth

with my hand

mr tuschman smiled like he could read my

mind

i was about to say something else but

then all of a sudden

i heard other voices outside the office

kids voices i'm not exaggerating when i

say this

but my heart literally started beating

like

i just run the longest race in the world

the laughter i had inside just poured

out of me

the thing is when i was little i never

minded meeting new kids

because all the kids i met were really

little too

what's cool about really little kids is

that they don't say stuff to try to hurt

your feelings

even though sometimes they do say stuff

that hurts your feelings

but they don't actually know what

they're saying

big kids though they know what they're

saying

and that is definitely not fun for me

one of the reasons i grew my hair long

last year

was that i like how my bangs cover my

eyes

it helps me block out the things i don't

want to see

mrs garcia knocked down the door and

poked her head inside

they're here mr tushman she said

who's here i said

thanks said mr tushman to mrs garcia

august i thought it would be a good idea

for you to meet some students

who'll be in your homeroom this year i

figured they could take you around the

school a bit

show you the lay of the land so to speak

i don't want to meet anyone i said to

mom

mr tushman was suddenly right in front

of me

his hands on my shoulders he leaned down

and said very softly in my ear it'll be

okay

august these are nice kids i promise

you're going to be okay auggie mom

whispered with all her might

before she could say anything else mr

tushman opened the door to his

office come on in kids he said

and in walk two boys and a girl

none of them looked over at me or mom

they stood by the door looking straight

at mr tushman

like their lives depended on it

thanks so much for coming guys

especially since school doesn't start

until next month

said mr tushman have you had a good

summer

all of them nodded but no one said

anything

great great said mr tushman so guys

i wanted you to meet august who's going

to be a new student here this year

august these guys have been students at

beecher prep since kindergarten

though of course they were in the lower

school building but they know all the

ins and outs of the middle school

program

and since you're all in the same

homeroom i thought it would be nice if

you got to know each other a little

before school started

okay so kids this is august

august this is jack well jack will

looked at me and put out his hand

when i shook it he kind of half smiled

and said

hey and looked down really fast

this is julian said mr tushman hey

said julian and did the same exact thing

as jack well

took my hand forced to smile looked down

fast

and charlotte said mr tushman charlotte

had the blondest hair i've

ever seen she didn't shake my hand

but gave me a quick little wave and

smiled

hi august nice to meet you she said

hi i said looking down she was wearing

bright green crocs

so said mr tushman putting his hands

together in a kind of slow clap

what i thought you guys could do is take

august on a little tour of the school

maybe you could start on the third floor

that's where your homeroom class is

going to be

room 301 i think mrs g

is room 301 mrs garcia called out from

the other room

room 301 mr tushman nodded

and then you can show august the science

labs and the computer room

and work your way down to the library

and the performance space on the second

floor

take him to the cafeteria of course

should we take him to the music room ask

julian

good idea yes said mr tushman

august do you play any instruments

no i said it wasn't my favorite subject

on account of the fact that i don't

really have

ears well i do but they don't exactly

look like normal

ears well you may enjoy seeing the music

room anyway said mr tushman

we have a very nice selection of

percussion instruments

august you've been wanting to learn to

play the drums mom said

trying to get me to look at her but my

eyes were covered by my bangs

as i stared at a piece of old gum that

was stuck to the bottom of mr tushman's

desk

great okay so why don't you guys get

going said mr tushman

just be back here and he looked at mom

half an hour okay i think mom nodded

so is that okay with you august he asked

me i didn't answer

is that okay august mom repeated

i looked at her now i wanted her to see

how mad i was at her

but then i saw her face and just nodded

seemed more scared than i was

the other kids had started out the door

so i followed them

see you soon said mom her voice sounding

a little higher than normal

i didn't answer her

the grand tour

jack will julian charlotte and i went

down a big hallway to some wide stairs

no one said a word as we walked up to

the third floor

when we got to the top of the stairs we

went down a little hallway

full of lots of doors julian opened the

door mark 301

this is our home room he said standing

in front of the half open

door we have ms petosa

they say she's okay at least for

homeroom i heard she's really

strict if you get her for math though

that's not true said charlotte

my sister had her last year and said

she's totally nice

not what i heard answered julian but

whatever

he closed the door and continued walking

down the hallway

this is the science lab he said when he

got to the next door

and just like he did two seconds ago he

stood in front of the half

open door and started talking he didn't

look at me

once while he talked which was okay

because i wasn't looking at him either

you won't know who you have for science

until the first day of school

but you want to get mr haller he used to

be in the lower school

he would play this giant tuba in class

it was a baritone horn said charlotte

it was a tuba answered julian closing

the door

dude let him go inside so he can check

it out jack will told him

pushing past julian and opening the door

go inside if you want julian said

it was the first time he looked at me

i shrugged and walked over to the door

julian moved out of the way quickly

like he was afraid i might accidentally

touch him as i passed by him

nothing much to see julian said walking

in after me

he started pointing to a bunch of stuff

around the room

that's the incubator that big black

thing is the chalkboard

these are the desks these are chairs

those are the bunsen burners this is a

gross science poster

this is chalk this is the eraser

i'm sure he knows what an eraser is

charlotte said

sounding a little like via how would i

know what he knows julian answered

mr tushman said he's never been to a

school before

you know what an eraser is right

charlotte asked me

i admit i was feeling so nervous that i

didn't know what to say or do except

look at the floor

hey can you talk ask jack will

yeah i nodded i still really hadn't

looked at any of them yet

not directly you know what an eraser is

right ask

jack will of course i mumbled

i told you there was nothing to see in

here said julian

shrugging i have a question

i said trying to keep my voice steady

um what exactly is homeroom

is that like a subject no that's just

your group

explain charlotte ignoring julian's

smirk

it's like where you go when you get to

school in the morning and your homeroom

teacher takes attendance and stuff like

that

in a way it's your main class even

though it's not really a class

i mean it's a class but i think he gets

it charlotte

said jack well do you get it

charlotte asked me yeah i nodded at her

okay let's get out of here said jack

will walking away

wait jack we're supposed to be answering

questions said

charlotte jack will rolled his eyes a

little as he turned around

do you have any more questions he asked

um

no i answered oh well actually yes

is your name jack or jack will

jack is my first name will is my last

name

oh because mr tushman introduced you as

jack well

so i thought ha you thought his name was

jack well

left julian yeah some people call me by

my first and last name

jack said shrugging i don't know why

anyway can we go now let's go to the

performance space next said charlotte

leading the way out of the science room

it's very cool

you'll like it august

the performance space

charlotte basically didn't stop talking

as we headed down to the second floor

she was describing the play they had put

on last year

which was oliver she played oliver

even though she's a girl as she said

this

she pushed open the double doors to a

huge auditorium

at the other end of the room was the

stage

charlotte started skipping toward the

stage julian ran

after her and then turned around halfway

down the aisle

come on he said loudly waving for me to

follow him which i did

there were like hundreds of people in

the audience that night said charlotte

and it took me a second to realize she

was still talking about oliver

i was so so nervous i had so many lines

and i had all these songs to sing it was

so

so so so hard although she was talking

to me

she really didn't look at me much

on opening night my parents were all the

way in back of the auditorium

like where jack is right now but when

the lights are off

you can't really see that far back so i

was like

where are my parents where are my

parents

and then mr resnick our theater arts

teacher last year he said

charlotte stop being such a diva and i

was like

okay and then i spotted my parents and i

was totally fine

i didn't forget a single line while she

was talking

i noticed julian staring at me out of

the corner of his

eye this is something i see people do a

lot with me

they think i don't know they're staring

but i can tell from the way their heads

are tilted

i turned around to see where jack had

gone to

he had stayed in the back of the

auditorium like he was bored

we put on a plate every year said

charlotte

i don't think he's going to want to be

in the school play charlotte said julian

sarcastically

you can be in the play without actually

being in the play charlotte answered

looking at me

you could do the lighting you can paint

the backdrops

oh yeah whoopee said julian

twirling his finger in the air but you

don't have to take the theater art

selective if you don't want to charlotte

said shrugging

there's dance or chorus or band there's

leadership

only dorks take leadership julian

interrupted

julian you're being so obnoxious said

charlotte

which made julian laugh i'm taking the

science elective i said

cool said charlotte julian looked

directly at me

the science elective is supposedly the

hardest elective of

all he said no offense but if you've

never

ever been in a school before why do you

think you're suddenly going to be smart

enough to take the science elective

i mean have you ever even studied

science before

like real science not like the kind you

do in kids

yeah i nodded he was homeschooled julian

said charlotte

so teachers came to his house asked

julian looking puzzled

no his mother taught him answered

charlotte

is she a teacher julian said is your

mother a teacher

charlotte asked me no i said

so she's not a real teacher said julian

as if that proved his point

that's what i mean how can someone who's

not a real teacher

actually teach science i'm sure you'll

do

fine said charlotte looking at me let's

just go to the library now jack called

out

sounding really bored

why is your hair so long julian said to

me

he sounded like he was annoyed i didn't

know what to say

so i just shrugged can i ask you a

question

he said i shrugged again

didn't he just ask me a question what's

the deal with your face

i mean were you in a fire or something

julian that's so rude said charlotte

i'm not being rude said julian i'm just

asking a question mr

tushman said we could ask questions if

we wanted to

not rude questions like that said

charlotte besides he was

born like that that's what mr tushman

said

you just weren't listening i was so

listening

said julian i just thought maybe he was

in a fire

too jeez julian said jack

just shut up you shut up

julian yelled come on august

said jack let's just go to the library

already

i walked towards jack and followed him

out of the auditorium

he held the double doors open for me and

as i passed by

he looked at me right in the face kind

of daring me to look back at him

which i did then i actually smiled

i don't know sometimes when i have the

feeling like i'm almost crying

it can turn into an almost laughing

feeling

and that must have been the feeling i

was having then because i smiled

almost like i was going to giggle the

thing is

because of the way my face is people who

don't know me very well

don't always get that i'm smiling my

mouth doesn't go up at the corners

the way other people's mouths do it just

goes straight across my face

but somehow jack will got that i smiled

at him

and he smiled back julian's a jerk

he whispered before julian and charlotte

reached us

but dude you're gonna have to talk

he said this seriously like he was

trying to help me

i nodded as julian and charlotte caught

up to us

we were all quiet for a second all of us

just kind of

nodding looking at the floor then i

looked up at julian

the words supposedly by the way

i said what are you talking about

you said supposably before

i said i did not yeah

you did charlotte nodded you said the

science elective

is supposedly really hard i heard you

i absolutely did not he insisted

whatever said jack let's just go

yeah let's just go great charlotte

following jack down the stairs to the

next floor

i started to follow her but julian cut

right in front of me which actually made

me stumble backward

oops sorry about that said julian

but i could tell from the way he looked

at me that he wasn't really sorry at all