Whatshisface

Content Warning: This source text depicts bullying and insensitive remarks about mental health.

Cooper Vega is a 12-year-old seventh grader. His dad, Captain Vega, is in the U.S. Army, so the Vega family moves often. In fact, Stratford Middle is Cooper’s fifth school in three years.

The children in Stratford have grown up together and are a tight-knit group. Not only do they have little interest in getting to know Cooper, but one of the boys, Aiden Scowcroft, gives Cooper the cruel nickname, “Whatshisface.” Another boy, Brock Bumgartner, just calls Cooper “kid.”

The only time the local boys pay attention to Cooper is when they need to even out the size of their soccer teams. Unfortunately, Cooper is not a great athlete. One time, instead of blocking a shot, he dodges the soccer ball to protect his GX-4000: an expensive smartphone that his parents bought him to bribe him into moving again. Upset at Cooper’s performance, Brock calls for new teams.

Cooper walks off the field and meets a girl named Jolie Solomon. Much to her parents’ chagrin, Jolie likes extreme sports and recently broke her wrist kiteboarding. She is the first local to learn Cooper’s real name.