Someday Angeline by Louis Sachar Page A

laughed. They picked up the remainder of the garbage off of the street, then started to get back into the truck.
    “Other side,” said Gus. “I’ll drive.”
    Gary Boone stared sadly at his shoes. It was recess again, and he had nothing to do. He didn’t even like looking at Mr. Bone’s fish anymore.They reminded him of Angeline. Everything reminded him of her. He wondered if he’d ever see her again. He hadn’t told even one joke all day.
    Suddenly two hands covered his eyes. “Guess who?” said a familiar voice from behind.
    He didn’t have to guess. He knew who it was, although he couldn’t believe it. He felt so happy he almost burst into tears. He couldn’t speak for a moment, then said, “Jim Nasium.”
    Angeline laughed. It was the funniest joke she’d ever heard.
    Gary turned around in delight. “You’re back!” he declared.
    “So are you!” said Angeline.
    “I’ve always been here,” said Gary.
    “You’re back to me,” said Angeline.
    Gary was flabbergasted. “When, what—” He didn’t know what to say first. “What did Mrs. Hardlick say? Is she being mean to you?”
    “I figured it out,” said Angeline. “All I have to do is answer every question wrong, and everybody likes me.”
    “Gee,” said Gary. “I do that all the time and nobody likes me.”
    “I like you,” said Angeline.
    Gary smiled at her. His eyes were misty. He liked her, too.
    “Do you have any new jokes?” she asked him. He cried.

Seventeen
Different Directions
    As Angeline walked back to class, Judy Martin was standing in the doorway. “What’s the matter, Freak?” Judy teased. “You missed a couple of problems.”
    “I don’t know,” Angeline mumbled.
    “How did it feel?” Judy continued. “Was that the first time you ever missed one? What was it like?”
    “I don’t know,” Angeline said again.
    “You don’t know!” declared Judy. “I guess you’re just not so smart anymore, are you?”
    Philip Korbin butted in. “Yeah, Judy,” he said. “She’s almost as dumb as you.”
    “Shut up.”
    Christy Mathewson once again came to her rescue. “She’s missed a week of school,” she said. “It will just take her awhile to catch up.” She walked with Angeline to her seat.
    “You knew the correct answers, didn’t you?” Christy asked her when they were alone.
    “I don’t know,” said Angeline.
    “You shouldn’t give the wrong answers when you know they’re wrong,” said Christy. “That’s just like lying.”
    “No talking!” declared Mrs. Hardlick. “The bell has rung.”
    Christy quickly and quietly took her seat.
    Mrs. Hardlick told them to get out their history books. It wasn’t like Christy had said, thought Angeline. She wasn’t lying. She only gave the wrong answers because that way Mrs. Hardlick wouldn’t hate her. It had seemed like such a good idea. Now, Christy made her feel bad about it.
    “Who invented the cotton gin?” asked Mrs. Hardlick.
    Angeline glanced over at Christy, then looked straight at Mrs. Hardlick. She raised her hand.
    “Yes, Angeline?” said Mrs. Hardlick.
    Angeline thought a moment. “Jim Nasium,” she said.
    The world spun around at over a thousand miles an hour and Angeline felt like she was spinning around too—in the opposite direction.
    “So when are you going to ask her out on a date?” Gus asked.
    Abel felt his heart leap into his mouth. “Who?” he asked.
    “You know who,” said Gus. “Mr. Bone.”
    Abel laughed. Actually, he giggled. “Oh, no,” he said. “I can’t, she won’t, she’s—no, I can’t do that.” He stared out the window over the door.
    “Okay, fine,” said Gus.
    “You think, maybe?” asked Abel. “Could I? No. She’s Angeline’s teacher. I can’t go on a date with Angeline’s teacher, can I? Can I?”
    “She’s not her teacher yet,” said Gus. “You can ask her out for tonight. Call her now.”
    “NOW!” shouted Abel. “I can’t ask her out now.” He looked at Gus as if he were