Good Kings Bad Kings

Teddy isn’t sure how to talk to Mia after what happened. He is angry that she didn’t talk to him about everything sooner, but Bernard—Teddy’s best friend—assures him that she might have not known how to. Bernard reveals that he might have to move back in with his mom soon since she needs his “check” to help pay for her own medicine (157). Teddy doesn’t want Bernard to leave and knows that Bernard’s mom’s house isn’t wheelchair accessible, since he lives on the third floor. They fantasize about living as roommates in the future.

Ricky takes a small, shy patient—Cleo—to the time out room because she isn’t participating enough in P.E. class. Ricky is outraged at the substitute teacher but can’t do anything. On the way to the room, he reminisces about his time working as an unloader, a physical but fun job. Once he reaches the room, he places Cleo in there, and after making her comfortable, he accidentally falls asleep for 10 minutes. When he wakes up, she has drawn in purple marker all over herself, “even her teeth” (163). He feels bad and has been feeling worse because of how often he has to take kids to the time out room.