Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7 Just as I thought, by four o'clock in the afternoon, Jaden still hadn't shown up at my house. Frankie, Ashley, and I sat around my dining-room table, our faces cupped in our hands, staring at poor half-done Stanley. My dad had played a video for us on how to install motors step-by-step. But after he took his computer into the kitchen to work, all of the steps slid out of our brains like melting ice cream. "We tried as hard as we could," Frankie sighed, "but this motor stuff is just too hard for

us." "We're out of time," Ashley said. "But we shouldn't feel bad, we're only second-graders. I bet by the time we're in fourth grade, we'll be able to send a robot to the moon." "There's always a chance that Jaden will still show up," I said. "Maybe he stopped to buy some grapes." "Let's face it, Zip," Frankie said. "If he's not here by now, he's not coming." Well, that wasn't exactly true, because no sooner had Frankie finished his sentence than the doorbell rang. All three of us jumped up like we were on a trampoline and bolted for the door. I flung it open, expecting to see Jaden. But it wasn't. It was a woman with big curly hair who looked kind of familiar. I had seen her waiting outside after school, but I didn't know her name.

"Are you a friend of my mom's?" I blurted out. "No, but I'd like to be. Are you Hank? I'm Jaden's mom." I looked to see if Jaden was behind her, but the hallway was empty. "So you came to say that Jaden couldn't make it?" I tried not to let my disappointment show, but I didn't do a very good job. "Jaden," she said to no one. "Come and say hi. Hank really wants to see you." I stepped out into the hall to see who she was talking to. Jaden was standing in the corner, next to Mrs. Fink's apartment. He was

trying to hide, but he also didn't do a very good job. "Jaden!" I screamed. "You made it! Come on in! We've been waiting for you." I turned and ran into the living room, then suddenly realized that Jaden wasn't behind me. I spun around and went back to the front door. Jaden hadn't moved. "It takes Jaden some time to get comfortable in a new situation," his mom said softly. "Oh, no problem," I said to Jaden. "I can fix that. I'll bring you my special pillow to sit on. It's so comfortable, it will make your butt smile." Jaden just looked at me. Then, for the first time since I'd met him, he burst out laughing. "That was funny," he said. "If you think I'm funny, wait until you hear Frankie. He's hilarious. Come on in. We've got my robot all set up, but we don't know how to attach the motor."

That got Jaden's attention. Without another word, he took off and flew by me into our apartment. "You can come, too," I said to his mom. "My dad's working in the kitchen. He's not that much fun to talk to, but at least he's a grown-up." Jaden's mom laughed and gave me a little hug. She seemed really happy. "Or you could go to my sister's room and visit with her and her pet iguana," I said, "but only if you like things that hiss—because they both do." "I'll just pop my head into the kitchen to say hi to your father," she said. "Then, if you don't mind, I'll sit in the living room and read while you kids work on the robot. I always bring a book. Jaden likes to know I'm nearby." After she came in, I raced to the dining room, where Jaden had already sat down in front of Stanley. He pulled out the same little screwdriver he had with him at school.

"Wow, Jaden, you sure came prepared," Ashley said. Jaden didn't answer. He just took the motor and studied it, untangling the six colored wires that came out of it. "We took that motor from an old front loader truck of mine," I explained. "Excellent," he said. "Then it has lifting elements, or as you might call them, arms." "Actually, we call them a plastic fork and a baby spoon," I said. It wasn't the funniest joke in the world, but it made me laugh. Jaden's face didn't change. He was in full-focus mode.