could be valedictorian and get into Harvard. Helen stayed out of
the competition, especially because she had started liking Zach less
and less the past few years. Ever since his father became the football
coach and starting pushing Zach to be number one both on the
field and in the classroom, Zach had become so competitive that
Helen could barely stand to be around him anymore.
A part of her felt bad for him. She would have pitied him more if
he wasn?t so combative toward her. Zach had to be everything all
the time?president of this club, captain of that team, the guy with
all the gossip?but he never looked like he was enjoying any of it.
Claire insisted that Zach was secretly in love with Helen, but Helen
didn?t believe it for a second; in fact, sometimes she felt like Zach
hated her, and that bothered her. He used to share his animal
crackers with her during recess in the first grade, and now he
looked for any opportunity to pick a fight with her. When did
everything get so complicated, and why couldn?t they all just be
friends like they were in grade school?
?Mr. Brant,? Mr. Hergeshimer enunciated. ?You may use ?impertinent?
as your word if you wish, but from someone of your mental
faculties I shall also be expecting something more. Perhaps an essay
on an example of impertinence in English literature?? He nodded.
?Yes, five pages on Salinger?s use of impertinence in his controversial
Catcher in the Rye by Monday, please.?
Helen could practically smell the palms of Zach?s hands clam up
from two seats away. Hergie?s powers for giving extra reading to
smart-ass students were legendary, and he seemed determined to
make an example out of Zach on the first day. Helen thanked her
lucky stars Hergie hadn?t picked on her.
She?d rejoiced too soon. After Mr. Hergeshimer handed out the
schedules, he called Helen up to his desk. He told the other students