Popcorn

On the way to science class, Gene insults Andrew’s clothes. When he stands up for himself, the bully starts insulting Andrew’s father, who used to work for Gene’s father. Andrew is on the verge of tears, and Kendrick intervenes. He apologizes for the ketchup incident, but that is the least of Andrew’s worries.

During class, Andrew tries to distract himself from his anxious thoughts by watching a content squirrel in a tree outside the window. He’s so worried about G, Gene, and Jonesy that he misses most of Mr. Stanley’s explanations of the experiment they’re conducting.

When Kendrick is called to the principal’s office, Gene takes advantage of the diversion and tampers with the materials on Andrew’s table. The boy is struck in the face by “a cannon blast of dark purple foam” and sinks to the floor while the bully brays with laughter (185).

Andrew’s anxiety intensifies as Mr. Stanley guides him to the eye wash station. Although Andrew is unharmed, his skin and his new shirt are covered in purple stains. When the teacher demands to know who tampered with Andrew’s experiment, the boy feels as if he is on the verge of a panic attack. Mr. Stanley sends him to the nurse’s office, but Andrew and Jonesy are called to Principal Espinosa’s office while he’s in the hallway.