Here in the Real World

Eleven-year-old Ware is supposed to spend the summer with his grandma, whom he calls Big Deal, at her retirement home. He was initially dreading it, but now finds it an amazing opportunity to get off on his own and explore. He sits on the edge of the pool, waiting for the right moment to sink to the bottom with two bricks and watch the twinkling lights on the palm trees as they turn on. While he waits, two men from the home, who Ware calls the Twin Kings, walk by and mock Ware for being “spaced out” (something they do often). Ware tells them he’s sick in order to get them to leave. At the right moment, Ware goes to the bottom of the pool with his bricks, but the lights turn red, indicating an emergency. Ware dashes out of the pool to find the emergency services at his grandma’s door, and one of his neighbors pointing at him.

Ware is surprised to wake up in his own bed instead of at his grandma’s place. He asks his parents about Big Deal, and they assure him that she is okay, but still in the hospital.