Sydney to the Max

"Take thy beak from out my heart,

"and take thy form from off my door.

Quoth the raven..."

"'Nevermore.'"

And we bow humbly.

That was beautiful, ladies.

Edgar Allen Poe always gives me chills.

I need a moment. (Deep inhale)

Moment taken!

Bye, Mrs. Harris. -Bye, girls.

She's so cool.

It's like she's not even a teacher!

I heard that.

Thank you. (Chuckle)

Hi, Sophia.

Hi, Sydney.

Hi, Olive.

Notice anything different about me?

You got your ears pierced! -Both of them!

Not every girl bails after just one ear, Olive.

I didn't bail.

I fainted.

Trust me, it's no big deal.

I held my mom's hand, let out one little whimper,

and I was done!

You know what? It's time I got my ears pierced.

I mean, if Sophia can do it...

Hey! -Sorry.

Olive, you in?

I'm in!

I'm gonna sit in that chair,

and face down that needle, and...

Oh, no. It's happening again.

Whoa!

Oh hello, Sydney.

Would you believe that's how I grade papers? (Laugh)

I get it. Sometimes I Dougie when I'm doing my homework.

I just forgot my sweater.

I was practicing for the Portland Air Guitar competition.

The guitar is fake,

but the pressure is real.

Well in that case, mind if I give you a few pointers?

Bring it on!

First of all, we'll start with the face. -Okay.

Give me your guitar player's overbite.

Look more pained.

Like you just stubbed your toe and it really hurts,

but for some weird reason, you kind of like it.

Yeah! Yeah, I'm feeling it!

So am I!

Now, play it over your head!

Play it with your teeth!

But I have gum issues!

It's air guitar!

Woo! -Oh!

That was awesome!

Help me up, help me up!

Sure.

Oh my gosh.

You know, I would really like to win this competition.

You think you could coach me?

I'd love that!

Wow.

The student has become the teacher.

And FYI,

we don't eat free in the cafeteria.

I learned that the hard way.

And that, my chicks,

is The Great Gatsby .

Think of that last line.

"So, we beat on,

boats against the current."

So, do you think the boats represent something?

Maxwell?

Yes.

Okay, could you expand on that?

Uh, I think the boats...

are...

us?

You're right!

I woulda lost that bet.

Wonderful, Max. (Laughs)

Learning is happening!

I must take a moment.

Moment ruined!

So, your assignment for Great Gatsby is either

a creative presentation,

or an essay. Your choice.

I know what I'm gonna do. The Charleston!

It's a dance from the '20s.

What are you doing?

I'm gonna write a paper.

English is my thinglish.

You might wanna go with the puppet show.

Hey, Dad. -Hey, morning, Syd.

Here you go. Pancakes and sausage.

Sorry, Dad. I don't have time.

In that case...

pigs in a blanket!

Thanks.

Oh, and before I forget,

I need you to sign something.

Oh, an autograph from the coolest dad in the world?

Who should I make it out to?

Lacey's Earrings And More.

I wanna get my ears pierced.

Plus, they're huge fans.

Ah, you're getting your ears pierced?

You know I would love to go with you, but...

I know. It's okay, Dad.

Thanks. Just can't stand to see you in pain.

I'd throw my body in front of the needle,

and then who knows what might get pierced?

So, what do you think?

Do I embody the class and

You look like a magician.

How dare you!

I'll have you know, this was my cousin Rusty's best tuxedo.

And now, for the Charleston.

Okay, maybe he was a magician.

You wanna know who's a magician?

Me.

I've turned a blank sheet of paper into an A.

Ta-da!

What is all the racket?

You're supposed to be doing your homework.

Hey, Leo.

Doing a magic act at school?

No. I'm Jay Gatsby,

the classiest man of his era.

You're reading The Great Gatsby?

That was my favorite book in school.

I wrote a paper so good, Mr. Williger wept.

He did have that leaky eye thing, but he loved it.

I wrote a paper on it, too.

It's called, "Great Gatsby",

Superhero or Supervillain?"

Max, there are no superheroes in The Great Gatsby.

Unless you're being ironic.

What's ironic mean?

That's what I was afraid of.

Mom, just read my paper.

Maybe you'll learn something.

Come on, Leo. Let's go play some b-ball.

I better go change, first.

Think I feel something alive in the lining.

And Mom, just put the paper in the folder in my backpack

when you're done having your mind blown!

"Gatsby thought he was a superhero.

"He had a secret identity known only to his butler,

"and even had a super car, the Gat-mobile." Oh, boy.

I should just rewrite this whole thing. No.

Not that kind of a mother. (Chuckles)

Oh yes, I am.

Yo, bestie! Ready to get our ears pierced?

Yeah, about that...

You're chickening out?

Not again. Two classes ago, you were all,

"Bring on that needle, fool!"

Then I saw a maintenance guy hitting a nail into a wall,

and started to get wobbly.

Well if you're out, then I guess I'm out, too.

Sorry, Syd.

Don't worry. We'll get it done eventually.

Let's make a plan right now

to meet at the mall on our 75th birthday.

Can't. I have bingo that day.

Hey, Sydney!

I wanted to thank you for all of your help.

I did my homework last night,

I think I'm getting it.

After school, I'm gonna go to the mall

to look for a costume for the competition.

Do you wanna join me?

I would love my coach's advice.

Sure. How rock and roll do you wanna go?

Well, I wanna shock the crowd,

but still keep my job.

What's all this?

It's for Krystal Wind from our drum circle.

Is Krystal Wind a person or an air freshener?

Both, really.

I got stuck making her birthday cake.

It's gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free...

It's basically cake-free.

Well, this will brighten your day.

Sydney had me sign her permission slip

to get her ears pierced.

Yay! I've been waiting years for this moment.

You know, I would take her...

Oh, please. You get light-headed when you use a stapler.