The Homework Machine

Ronnie is thrilled that Brenton, the “genius-in-residence” (103) is moved to his table. Ronnie tries to befriend him, assuming that Brenton will tell him what the D Squad is up to. Despite Ronnie’s best efforts, Brenton has no interest in being friends, so Ronnie tries a different tactic. Ronnie threatens to tell everyone what Brenton is up to if he doesn’t let him in on it. Brenton calls Ronnie’s bluff and asks, “what exactly am I up to?” (104), and the question silences Ronnie. Initially Ronnie denies throwing a rock through a window to break into Brenton’s house but then admits that it was him. He wanted to find if there really is a homework machine and says that having the machine isn’t fair.

Snik is unable to figure out the next move in one of his chess games with his father, so he brings his chessboard into school. The class tries to help him, but Brenton says Snik is in “Zugzwang, which means that any move you make only makes your position worse” (104). Even though Snik loses the game, his father emails with a message that he is proud of the “good fight” Snik put up, and they start another game.