The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

Annalissetta Yang is someone Mason admires. She also uses the Dragon because she has cerebral palsy. Mason met her one day when he was putting his head down walking through the hall and ran into her, knocking her down. She has a walker called a Crocodile, because it’s green, and that fell too. Mason tried to help her up, but Annalissetta surprised him, saying “I am capable. I can do things for myself. So if you help me when I don’t need help, you underestimate me” (60). Mason was startled but listened. Since that day, he and Annalissetta have been good acquaintances. Mason doesn’t feel bad for Annalissetta, despite her severe disabilities, because she doesn’t feel bad for herself. 

Mason and Calvin are in the crumbledown drinking banana shakes when Shayleen comes out of her room jumping and screaming. The UPS truck is coming. Grandma and Mason think it’s a waste; only Uncle Drum likes to see Shayleen happy. Mason goes out to get the box, which is very light. He pretends it is heavy, huffing and puffing to trick Shayleen, who doesn’t even remember what she ordered.