Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5 "Time for math!" Ms. McKay called out. "Take out your books!" Michael reached into his backpack and felt around for his math book. Then he unzipped the pack and looked inside. "Oh no!" he said.

"Is there something wrong, Michael?" Ms. McKay asked. "Umm... no, ma'am," Michael answered, looking up from his pack. Ms. McKay turned to write on the smart board, and Michael leaned over to Justin. "I forgot my book. Can I look at yours?" he whispered. "Sure." Justin slid his book to the edge of his desk. Less than 10 minutes into the lesson, Michael got tired of listening to Ms. McKay while leaning over to read Justin's book, so he did what many kids who are pretending to pay attention in class do— he doodled. By 30 minutes into the lesson, he'd sketched a masterpiece of plastic pipery: an intricate tangle of tubes running all over his bedroom, like the Taj Mahal for hamsters.

"Check this out," Michael whispered proudly to Justin, sliding his drawing over to his friend. "Merle and Pearl would love to live in something like this." Justin was confused. "Michael, you do know that we have a test tomorrow? You've got to know this stuff!" "I know, I know," Michael said. "I'll study when I get home."