；　baby　brother？”

“Nothing；　and　stop　calling　me　that！　And　don't　barge　into　my　room　anymore！”

“Give　me　your　sharpener　and　I'm　history；”　she　said　with　her　hand　out。

I　dug　it　out　of　my　drawer　and　tossed　it　at　her；　and　sure　enough；　she　disappeared。

………　Page　55………

But　two　seconds　later　my　mom　was　calling　for　me；　and　after　that；　well；　I　forgot　that　the　paper

was　in　my　binder。

Until　first　period　the　next　morning；　that　is。　Man！　What　was　I　supposed　to　do　with　it？　I　couldn't

get　up　and　throw　it　out；　Garrett　was　right　there。

Besides　that；　Darla　Tressler's　in　that　class；　and　I　could　tell　—　she　was　keeping　an　eye　out　for

wayward　bees。　If　she　caught　wind　of　this；　I'd　be　the

one　stung。

Then　Garrett　reaches　over　to　snag　a　piece　of　paper　like　he　does　about　fourteen　times　a　day；

only　I　have　a　plete　mental　spaz　and　slam　down

on　his　hand　with　mine。

“Dude！”　he　says。　“What's　your　problem？”

“Sorry；”　I　say；　tuning　in　to　the　fact　that　he　was　only　going　for　lined　paper；　not　newspaper。

“Dude；”　he　says　again。　“You　know　you've　been　really　spaced　lately？　Anyone　else　tell　you

that？”　He　rips　a　piece　of　paper　out　of　my　binder；　then

notices　the　edges　of　the　newspaper。　He　eyes　me；　and　before　I　can　stop　him；　he　whips　it　out。

I　pounce　on　him　and　tear　it　out　of　his　hands；　but　it's　too　late。　He's　seen　her　picture。

Before　he　can　say　a　word；　I　get　in　his　face　and　say；　“You