6 Mom and Dad

Six mom and dad AFTER SCHOOL, HARRIS AND Roxy walked home together. "You know, I don't think you've been very welcoming to Zeke," said Roxy. "Just because he's different from you doesn't mean he isn't nice." "I still think he's strange," Harris said.

"Well, I like him," said Roxy. "Is that why you don't like him? I can be friends with both of you, you know." "That's not it," said Harris. "I've just seen him do some crazy stuff."

"And all of what you call 'crazy stuff' has a logical explanation," said Roxy. "I just think you're looking for reasons to not like Zeke." Roxy turned onto her block. Harris kept walking. He thought about what Roxy had said. Then he shrugged it off. That evening at dinner, Harris's parents asked him about Zeke. "How is that new boy doing?" asked his mom.

"I hope you are trying to make friends with him," added his dad. "I don't know," said Harris. "He does all kinds of strange stuff. He even balanced on his fingertips, like the aliens in that movie, Dad." "Harris, come on," said his dad. "You're too old to not know the difference between movies and real life." "No, Dad, it's real!" Harris insisted. "I'm telling you the truth."

"Remember how much trouble you had making friends when you started at Jefferson until you met Roxy?" asked his mom. "I would hope that you would be extra nice to new kids who are trying to fit in." "But, Mom, I—" "I'm sure that if you take the time to get to know Zeke, you'll discover that he's just a normal kid like you," Mom said. "He might be different, but that's no reason not to be his friend."

Harris went to his room after dinner and started his homework. But again he had trouble concentrating. Everyone is telling me that I'm wrong, but I know I'm not. I'm going to prove, once and for all, that Zeke is an alien!