When Friendship Followed Me Home by Paul Griffin

said.
    â€œIt’s not real smoke,” Rayburn’s mom said. “It’s
water.
”
    â€œIt’s not happening anywhere near school property,” Mrs. Pinto said. “Okay, so Damon, you have something for Ben.”
    He gave me the headphones. I didn’t even want them now that he’d worn them.
    â€œAnd?”
    Rayburn rolled his eyes. His mom yelled, “Damon, you want to get locked up? Shake those boys’ hands.
Mean
it too.”
    He was shaking as he shook our hands. He was this close to killing somebody or crying. Angelina was huffing and Ronda rolled her eyes.
    â€œNow
sign
that contract,” his mom said. It said he promised to meet with the guidance counselor twice a week. He signed.
    â€œThat’s it?” Chucky said. “He’s not going to jail? Not even a freaking
suspension?
He punched me in the mouth!”
    â€œCharles,” Mrs. Mold said.
    â€œI kind of have to agree with Chuck here,” Leo said. “Look, I’m not saying we gotta hook Dennis to the ball and chain—boys will be boys and all—but don’t you think he’s getting off a little light? I mean, going to the
guidance
counselor? Do we really think that’s going to work?”
    â€œAnd what do you want
Damon
to do instead?” Rayburn’s mom said, like she was ready to stick her non-smoky cigarette into Leo’s eye.
    â€œLet Chuck smack him back?” Leo said. “Hey, relax, I was just
kidding.”
    Everybody stared at Leo.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    Mrs. Pinto sent us kids out while she talked to the parents and Leo. Rayburn and Angelina stormed off, glaring at me like everything was my fault.
    â€œThanks,” I said to Ronda.
    â€œI only did it because your mom died,” she said. “You’re still not allowed to say hi to me in the hall.” She gave mea halfhearted shove and went off the other way. I plunked down on the bench outside Mrs. Pinto’s office. Chucky plunked next to me. “Me too, Coffin,” he said. “Sorry about your mom.” He put his arm over my shoulder, but I shrugged it off. “I’m
fine,
Mold, okay? Seriously.”
    â€œOkay,” he said. Chucky’s fingertip traced what somebody scratched into the bench: THE OTHER WAY TO SPELL FAILURE? Y-O-U.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    When we got home, or what used to be home, Flip was already by the door with one of my dirty socks and my collector’s edition Wolverine action figure. Leo almost tripped over Flip. “We might have to start making him wear a blinking light,” he said. “I’ve seen rats bigger than him. I guess we better get you packed up now, champ.”
    â€œI’m ready.” I nodded to where I’d put a bag of clothes and a box of books with the picture of Laura and my Chewie poster.
    â€œThat’s it?” Leo said.
    I’d already packed the other books and brought the boxes down to the mailroom that morning.
    Leo clapped my shoulder. “Jeanie won’t be back from work till eight. Let’s play a video game or something. I’ll order a couple of pizzas.”
    â€œI have to walk Flip,” I said.
    â€œWhen you get back.”
    â€œActually, I have to meet a friend.”
    â€œGotcha,” he said.
    â€œWhat time do you want me home for dinner?”
    â€œI mean, whenever Tess used to say, I guess, right?”

16
    THE EXPLODED RAINBOW
    Mrs. Lorentz wasn’t at the front desk, so that was good at least. Halley’s notebooks and sparkle pens were spread all over the table like an exploded rainbow. Black beret today. Glaring green eyes for just a second and then no time for me. “This is me not talking to you,” she said.
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œYou’re an idiot.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œYou don’t know anything. My mother and I were like, did he die or something? Gimme your freaking backpack.” She scooped Flip