The Loser

The Loser

Jae needed to be at school in half an hour, and he couldn't find his homework. He searched the kitchen table, his backpack, under his bed. Nothing. Frustrated, he yanked open the refrigerator to get breakfast. There, leaning against a quart of milk, was his science report.

I must have left it there when I was making a snack yesterday, Jae thought. Why can't I keep track of my stuff? Over breakfast, Jae finished up his homework. He scribbled a sentence about his favorite dinosaur, Microraptor, and rushed to school.

After school, Jae stood at his front door and patted his pockets. Where are my keys? he wondered. He carefully searched his backpack. They weren't there. What now? Jae thought. His parents wouldn't be home for another hour. Just then, Ron, the man who lived next door, walked past and nodded to Jae.

Jae had never really talked to Ron, who seemed kind of quiet. But he's a good friend of Dad's, Jae thought to himself. He remembered the many times he had quietly watched Dad and Ron playing cards together. And I can't just wait out here for an hour, Jae thought. Jae marched to Ron's door and knocked.

When it opened, Jae said, “ Hi, Ron. I've lost my keys, and my parents aren't home. Could I wait here with you?" " Sure, " Ron said. Inside, Jae noticed a baseball on a shelf and went over to examine it. Ron smiled when he saw Jae peering at it. “ That one was signed by the '87 Minnesota Twins, right after the World Series, " he said.