THE NEXT MORNING, TOMMY, Alan, and me waited outside the gates for Steve, but there was no sign of him by the time the bell rang for class, so we had to go in.
"I bet he's hiding," Tommy said. "He couldn't get the tickets and now he doesn't want to face us."
"Steve's not like that," I said.
"I hope he brings the flyer back," Alan said. "Even if we can't go, I'd like to have the flyer. I'd stick it up over my bed and..."
"You couldn't stick it up, stupid!" Tommy laughed.
"Why not? "Alan asked.
"Because Tony would see it," I told him.
"Oh yeah," Alan said glumly.
I was miserable in class. We had geography first, and every time Mrs. Quinn asked me a question, I got it wrong. Normally geography's my best subject, because I know so much about it from when I used to collect stamps.
"Had a late night, Darren?" she asked when I got my fifth question wrong.
"No, Mrs. Quinn," I lied.
"I think you did." She smiled. "There are more bags under your eyes than in the local supermarket!" Everybody laughed at that Mrs. Quinn didn't crack jokes very often and I did, too, even though I was the butt of the joke.
The morning dragged, the way it does when you feel let down or disappointed. I spent the time imagining the freak show. I made-believe I was one of the freaks, and the owner of the circus was a nasty guy who whipped everybody, even when they got stuff right. All the freaks hated him, but he was so big and mean, nobody said anything. Until one day he whipped me once too often, and I turned into a wolf and bit his head off! Everybody cheered and I was made the new owner.
It was a pretty good daydream.
Then, a few minutes before lunch, the door opened and guess who walked in? Steve! His mother was behind him and she said something to Mrs. Quinn, who nodded and smiled. Then Mrs. Leonard left and Steve strolled over to his seat and sat down.
"Where were you?" I asked in a furious whisper.
"At the dentist's," he said. "I forgot to tell you I was going."
"What about..."
"That's enough, Darren," Mrs. Quinn said. I shut up instantly.
At recess, Tommy, Alan, and I almost smothered Steve. We were shouting and pulling at him at the same time.
"Did you get the tickets?" I asked.
"Were you really at the dentist's?" Tommy wanted to know.
"Where's my flyer?" Alan asked.