Posted

The next day, the sticky notes become a staple within Eric’s group. Bench and Deedee use them for jokes and weekend plans. In English class, Wolf passes Eric a note asking if he minds having Rose sit with them again. Eric doesn’t answer, but during lunch, he sees Wolf and Rose at their table, laughing “Like old friends” (90). Rose is good at origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. To demonstrate, she takes Eric’s napkin and asks him to name an animal. Wanting something difficult, Eric asks for a Komodo dragon. Rose folds the napkin into something resembling a fish, insisting it’s a Komodo dragon.

Someone stops by to announce one of their classmates is going to run “the Gauntlet” that afternoon. The Gauntlet is a steep hill with an obstacle course of trees, and running it involves coasting down via bicycle without flipping or crashing. Rose says it sounds dumb. Wolf agrees, but an angry Bench states he’s going and demands to know if Eric’s going with him. Feeling trapped, Eric agrees, even though he doesn’t want to go. Bench picks up his lunch tray and leaves. Wolf waves, but Bench’s hands “[are] so full he [doesn’t] wave back” (98).