The Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers

that and he traveled around and talked about it. He was OK. He was a decent boarder.”
    â€œCool,” I said. “Seb doesn’t. Travel, I mean. Or skateboard. He
has
one. He just doesn’t like it.”
    â€œI mean, this kid was just . . .” he continued. “He was just sort of regular but then he had this whole movie he was in, a documentary or whatever, and in the movie it was all about how he freaked out in, like, train stations. Does your brother freak out in train stations?”
    â€œI don’t know,” I said. “I don’t think he’s ever been in a train station.” I started to laugh. “Where is there a train station? That’s so random!”
    He smiled. “This kid was from Chicago or something.”
    â€œOh,” I said. “Well, Seb freaks out about cameras. Maybe it’s the same. I haven’t seen that movie. I kind of get enough of autism at home. You know. Too much, really.”
    Suddenly, it was like the bubble of awkward that was holding us in burst open and all the fresh air rushed back in. I took a big breath. It felt good.
    â€œI’m just going into 7-Eleven for a quick sec,” I said. “Wait here.”
    â€œOK,” he said. He got on his board again and started hopping on and off the sidewalk.
    I bought an
Everybody
magazine and two Cokes. I couldn’t very well sit and enjoy a Coke if he didn’t have a drink. When I gave it to him, he sort of lit up, and when he did, I noticed that he has really interesting eyes. They were golden brown with a lighter ring around the middle.
    â€œHey, thanks,” he said. “You’re, like, awesome.”
    â€œThanks,” I said. “I’m not awesome!”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know you very well yet, but so far I think you are.”
    â€œYou do?” I said. 44 My heart plinked in my chest like a rock falling into a bucket. Did he like-like me? I really needed to talk to FB, and fast. But I also wanted to hang with Kai. I wanted him to stay.
    â€œThe Coke’s no big deal,” I said. “My mom gave me ten dollars to make her coffee.” I did not mention the eggs. It seemed too complex to bring up.
    We found a good spot on the beach in a circle of logs, and we propped some logs up over the top like a shade. I’m terrible in the full sun. My freckles go crazy. Well, crazier. They’re already crazy.
    We sat and talked for a long time. I didn’t get a chance to read
Everybody
at all. 45
    When we got to Kai’s house, he waved and jumped up the stairs in one bound, then slid down the railing on his board and fell over. I don’t think he hurt himself because he got up really quickly and ran inside before I could go and see if he was OK.
    â€œSee you,” I called, even though he was already inside and the door was closed.
    I was in such a good mood, I didn’t even notice that to get back at me for the missing Wii, Seb and Lex had rearranged my bedroom so when I threw my bag on what is usually my desk, it spilled its sandy contents out all over my bed.
    Oh, they’re so funny. A brilliant future in comedy awaits them! But only if the entire world accidentally loses all its IQ points in a mysterious and top secret alien attack.
    See also
Autism; Boarding, Skate.
Cortez Junior
    Cortez Junior is my school, named after the Spanish conquistador 46 Hernando Cortez, who apparently was the person responsible for ending the Aztec empire. I’m really not sure why he has so many things named after him, as ending an ­empire as amazing as the Aztecs’ does not seem like something you should be rewarded for, especially when you think about the cool Aztec stuff they built before he marched in with his army and killed them all.
    Cortez is a school like any other, I guess, but I have never been to any other school, so what do I know? It has classrooms and hallways and motivational posters on the wall that say