A Tale of Two Tails by Henry Winkler

they quit.
    2. I can’t believe they quit.
    3. I can’t believe they quit.
    4. They quit. I can’t believe it.
    5. They actually quit. I can’t believe it.
    6. Can you believe it? They quit.
    7. Wait a minute. They actually quit.
    8. Holy mackerel, they quit!
    9. Have I told you that they really did quit?
    10. I can’t believe they quit.

CHAPTER 13
    As if the day hadn’t started badly enough, Ms. Adolf gave us a pop quiz on fractions. There were ten problems and I got one correct. It was one half plus one half, which I know equals a whole. The fact that I knew that made me so excited I can’t even explain it to you. Ms. Adolf didn’t share my excitement, though. She wrote a big red F on the top of my quiz, which, by the way, did not stand for Fantastic or Fabulous or Far Out.
    There it was. Another F.
    You know, my father says I’m lazy. Ms. Adolf says that I need to focus. Even my mom, who really tries to understand my learning differences, says I would do a lot better if I just applied myself to my schoolwork. What do they think? That I want to fail? That I’m doing this on purpose? I lie in bed at night, and I think to myself, Are you trying hard, Hank? And I promise you, I am.
    Sometimes I think tomorrow, I’m going to try harder. And then tomorrow comes and my brain still can’t figure out fractions. Man, it’s frustrating.
    So you can imagine how glad I was when the bell rang for lunch and I could wipe all thoughts of math and fractions and Fs out of my head. I grabbed my brown bag, because it wasn’t macaroni day, and headed for the lunchroom. By the time I got a milk and a dessert, Frankie and Ashley were already sitting at our usual table. What wasn’t usual was that Robert and Emily were there, too. All four of them were in a deep discussion.
    â€œHey, guys,” I said, sliding onto the bench next to Ashley. “This looks serious.”
    â€œWe’re having an important meeting, Hank,” Emily said.
    â€œAbout what?” I said with a laugh. “Iguana toenail clippings?”
    â€œActually, yes,” Robert said. “Iguana grooming is the subject.”
    â€œAnd no offense, dude, but it’s private,” Frankie said.
    â€œOh,” I said. “Okay. Don’t mind me, I’ll just sit here quietly.”
    I reached into my brown bag and took out the plastic baggy that contained my sandwich. Soylami again! I held my nose and was about to take a bite, when suddenly I realized the four of them were staring at me in silence.
    â€œWhat?” I said. “I did not make this sandwich. Trust me.”
    â€œHank,” Ashley began, shifting her eyes away from me. “This is a meeting of Team Katherine. And it really is private.”
    â€œMeaning just us,” Frankie said.
    â€œMeaning beat it, big brother,” Emily said.
    â€œWhy can’t I just sit here and eat my lunch? It’s not like I’m going to steal your lizard secrets or anything.”
    â€œYou never know,” Emily said. “Let me remind you that you are the competition.”
    â€œOkay, okay,” I said, putting my sandwich back in its baggy. “I get it. Team Cheerio is leaving.”
    That reminded me that maybe I had better find a Team Cheerio. One guy and one dachshund does not make a team.
    Luke Whitman was sitting at a table by himself. That happens a lot to him. When you pick your nose during lunch, it cuts down on the number of people who can stomach sharing a table with you. Lucky for me, Luke’s digging finger was on a break, so I slid onto the bench across from him.
    â€œLuke! Just the guy I was looking for,” I began. “How would you like to be a proud member of Team Cheerio and help me train the greatest dachshund in the city of New York.”
    â€œSorry, Hank. I have another plan.”
    â€œWhat plan could be better than being part of a surefire winning team?”
    â€œCan you keep a