And Then I Go

This is the house I grew up in.

That's our sailboat we never use.

My dad calls it the Spirit Breaker.

That's Flake's house.

He's my best friend.

That's where I broke my wrist when I was eight.

And the pole Flake and I carved our names into.

This is our school.

That's my locker I can never get open.

I lay in bed at night terrorized by thoughts of this place

to where I can't sleep.

And if I ever do get to sleep, I just have nightmares about it.

Everyone's in a group or wants to be in a group.

It's a joke.

This place, and everyone in it,

is a big shit pile floating downstream.

And all the way at the bottom,

below the kids with missing jaws and shit,

there's me and Flake.

Ours is a group of two.

We know it's only the first day of school,

but we want to encourage everyone to meet in the quad today

where you can sign up for chess club, art club,

thespian club, yearbook club, drama club,

video journalism club...

Edwin, where's your book?

In my locker.

Well, what good is it doing you in there?

Sometimes I wonder.

Did you hear me?

What's it doing in your locker?

Well, do you want to explain to the principal why it's there?

He can't get his locker open.

Shh.

Is that true?

Is that really true?

Oh, fuck me.

So, ...

Ms. Meier says you're not to come back into her class

until you're ready to start acting like a human being.

Do you know when that'll be?

You want to tell me what happened today?

I couldn't get my locker open.

You couldn't get your locker open?

Why does everyone repeat what I say?

Okay, and I suppose you found it appropriate

to use foul language in her class 'cause you couldn't get your locker open?

Is that right?

You suppose right.

All right, just tell your parents I'm gonna be in touch.

Do you hear me?

I may keep it a surprise.

Oh, my god.

Kids like you used to get their butts kicked when I was a kid.

They still do.

All right.

Can we see less of each other, please?

My mom checks the summer reading thing that we had to do

and she looks over and she says, "Oh, this isn't good enough".

So, she's making me redo the entire thing before we have to hand it in tomorrow.

It's so fucking stupid.

She's always on my case about it.

She just won't shut up for the rest of the period.

And then, in the hallway after class she's like...

Ball.

Come on.

What the fuck?

What's up now, bitch?

Get off me.

Get off him.

Oh, fuck!

Think you're funny now?

Where you going? Where you going?

What are you gonna do? Look at you.

Get off of me. Get off.

You're such a bitch.

Fuck you.

Fuck me?

- Okay. - Fuck you.

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Knock it off!

Hey, knock it off!

I'm gonna kill you.

What are you gonna do?

I said knock it off right now!

Hey, hey, knock it off.

Knock it off. Get off him.

Get off him!

What is wrong with you?

Go.

Hey, hey kid.

You all right?

I want everybody off the field right now.

- Flake, you okay? - Fuck you.

Go.

I'll talk to you in a minute.

Go.

Was Roddy involved?

No, not this time.

Just the last time then, right?

He gets blamed for a lot of stuff he doesn't do.

I know. He's such a misunderstood figure, isn't he?

How about a new friend, pal?

You ever think about that?

Maybe a friend that you haven't seen every single day since you were five.

Tim.

You know, you're grounded for a week.

You get detention, you get grounded.

Those are the rules.

Hey, you hear me?

Edwin?

No more ice cream for me.

Ooh, you want to make it two?

I don't care.

- Hey. - Edwin, come on.

What'd you teach today?

Macro.

Was it fun?

Yeah, I had fun. I like Macro.

I don't know. I don't know what to do.

Maybe a new school?

I'm not going to a private school.

You got that right.

Yeah, somewhere new wouldn't be the worst thing for you.

Is that good, Gus?

Hey, take a napkin, please.

I think Gus is gonna turn out to be normal.

Edwin, please don't say that.

He is.

You're not abnormal.

Well, let's not rush to judgment on that.

Honey.

What, I can't kid around with him?

It's not funny.

You're fine.

Your mother's right. You're not abnormal.

- I'm not? - Speaking of.

No, you're not.

What, are you possessed?

Oh, Gus. Please, just.

I got something on my butt.

Wow.

Well, that came out of left field.

What would that be?

- Want to see? - No.

Oh, my God.

Maybe later.

That's the normal you're aspiring to.

What are they watching?

TV.

Are there any other kids at school who don't watch TV?

You mean, besides me?

Oh, besides you and Roddy.

Not that I can think of.

Well, don't kids talk about shows and stuff

that are on all the time?

All the time.

What about, um, social media?

Social media?

Okay, you know what I mean.

Facebook, Instagram, whatever.

You and Roddy don't do any of that stuff.

Don't the other kids?

Yeah, of course.

So don't you feel left out?

All the time.

Hello?

Welcome to Target World.

What?

Who is this?

Emperor Samatar.

Oh, god.

It's you again.

What do you got for me this time?

Oh, God.

Okay.

Hello?

So, that's it?

All right, pal.

Asshole.

No talking.

Asshole.

What did I just say?

What is it, Mr. Sfikas?

He's swearing at me. Can you tell him to stop?

Leave him alone, Mr. Hanratty.

He keeps putting his hand down his pants

and doing something with himself.

It's gross. The whole desk moves.

Just both of you be quiet.

18-15. My ball.

Come on.

- Asshole. - Fuckwad.

You're such an asshole.

You're such a fuckwad.

Oh, okay.

Nice comeback, man.

You're so bad at this.

Fuck you, man.

It's your serve.