P.S. Be Eleven
Dreams Come True
Ms. Hardwick’s moving
to another state to teach
The twins got kicked out
for the rest of the year
April’s coming to your house
Your family is back together
And you start back soccer soon.
Finally, normal seems possible
again.
Today, Coby called
when he got back from Dallas.
Asked you to come over.
You said no, told him
you had to clean up,
which was half true.
You didn’t have to,
you wanted to,
’cause Mom said
the only way she’d let April
come over
was if you cleaned
the refrigerator,
your bathroom,
and your room,
and organized the closet.
So you limped around
and did just that
happily.
Knock Knock
Your mother answers the door,
and you hear April’s voice, but
wait: she is not alone. ARGGGH!
Twain*
Thanks for inviting us, Nick, April says.
US?
Mom shoots you a look like you knew all these people were coming.
You didn’t!
Saida and Maisha
are behind April,
followed by
Annie, Kellie,
and,
get this,
Winnifred.
Nerds and Words
I can’t even imagine living in a dust storm, says Kellie. I really felt like I was right there with Billie Jo.
Yeah, me too, says Saida, ’cause my dad is sad a lot too.
He’s sad because he lost his job, Saida, Maisha says to her sister, and then we’re all quiet, ’cause that is sad.
Well, I like that Mad Dog likes her,
but why doesn’t he just tell her? Annie says.
You mean like you wish Robbie Howard would tell you? Kellie giggles.
And that’s when you realize you’re in a book club
with all girls, which is insane.
April smiles at you. What do you think, Nick? she asks.
Just then, your mom comes out
of the kitchen
with a tray of cookies,
and,
get this,
tea, and
now you’re sipping tea
with a bunch of girls, and
so glad
that no guys
are here
to see you.
What were you about to say, Nick?
Uh, I was just gonna, uh, say
that I liked it, I guess.
Did you have a favorite part? she asks.
You know your mom’s listening
from the kitchen when you say, Yeah,
on page 205
when Billie Jo
tells her dad,
I can’t be my own mother . . .
A Long Walk to Water
At the end of the meeting
Winnifred starts
blabbering
about some book
we MUST READ NEXT
because
her older sister says
it’s hauntingly beautiful
and gut-wrenching
and it’s based
on a true story
about boy soldiers
in Sudan
and she gave it
five stars
and blah blah blah
and April interrupts with:
I think Nicky has a suggestion.
Your Suggestion
Can we please choose
a book with a boy this time—
Weren’t you listening? Winey interrupts. It is about a boy.
Preferably in this time period, you continue.
Like what? Winnifred whines.
Like Peace, Locomotion,
an epistolary novel, which
means a—
I KNOW WHAT EPISTOLARY MEANS, she shouts, still frowning. IT’S A BOOK WRITTEN IN LETTERS.
Great choice, April says, and winks
at you.
Bye, Nick
Thanks for hosting the club, she
says, and hugs you. Tell your mom
I can’t wait for tomorrow.
Huh?
Family Meeting
Why’d you go and do that?
I thought you’d like it, Nicky. It’ll be fun.
What if I need my crutches? My ankle’s still a little sore.
You’ll be on a horse—why do you need crutches?
MOM, IT’S NOT FAIR. You can’t just be setting up a date for me.
It’s not a date. It’s just me, you, and April riding horses.
. . .
Well, I like her. She’s a nice girl.
Yeah, I know.
I was thinking that for the wedding, we would—
Stop making fun!
What’s all the commotion? Dad says, coming in through the garage.
Well, your eighth grade son is afraid of a girl.
I’m not afraid, Dad. She’s just setting up outings and whatnot without my permission.
I’m afraid this is grounds for a family meeting. Meet me in the living room.
We’re already in the living room, Dad.
Right! Okay, well, present your case.
You start talking and Dad interrupts—
Ladies first, sir.
Thank you, Mom says, all prim and proper-like. Well, I met his girlfriend—
She’s not my girlfriend. I object.
So noted, says Dad. Carry on, Milady.
I figured he might want to hang with her outside of school, and I thought since he’s so good at riding—
Nicholas, are you good at riding?
Dad, this isn’t about—
Just answer the question, please.
Yes.
Do you like this April girl?
Uh, I guess.
Yes or no answer, please.
Yeah.
Will you have fun with her?
Probably, but I’m not fully recovered, and—
Are you going back to school next week?
Yes.
Based on the evidence that’s been presented, I rule in favor of the defendant. The date shall commence tomorrow.
WOOHOO! Mom yells.
That’s not fair, you say.
The judge has decided, Mom counters.
Let’s hug it out, Dad says,
and the three of you do,
just like old times
and hopefully new ones, too.
Text to Coby
Who beat y’all?
A team from Mexico. They were fast!
Bummer.
Your team got beat too.
I heard.
But it was cool. I met Pelé.
NO FREAKIN’ WAY! REALLY?
Well, I saw him from, like, a distance, but yeah.
Cool!
So what’s up with you?
Everything’s great. My mom and dad are back together.
Really?
Really.
That’s what’s up.
Looks like you had a lot of fun in Dallas. I saw your pics.
Not as fun as it coulda been. Wasn’t the same.
Same as what?
Same as if you were there. If you want, we can play FIFA after school.
Can’t. I’m booked.
You’re booked?
Yup. I got a date tomorrow.
A date? With who?
April Farrow.
Yeah, right. Where y’all going?
Riding horses.
Atta-boy!
When April
gets out
of
Mom’s rental SUV
and walks over
to the stable,
only one word
can describe
the way she
moves
in those
blue jeans:
callipygous.*
Rock Horse Ranch
Use the steel comb
like this, you say to April,
demonstrating how
to remove
the caked-on dirt.
Then take this soft brush
and rub over her, yep,
just like that, to wash away
the dust.
You’re doing great, April.
You know a lot about horses, Nick, she says.
I guess.
You know a lot about everything. Is it true you skipped a grade?
Yeah, second.
You’re so smart, Nicky.
. . .
Okay, check her feet
with a hoof pick, to clear out
the little rocks and stuff, you say.
Are you feeling better, Nick?
Yeah, pretty much.
Are you still gonna play soccer?
Uh, YEAH!
Well, that’s good. ’Cause you’re pretty good.
I know.
(We both laugh.)
Miss Quattlebaum told me
to tell you hi.
Maybe I’ll be in class
on Monday, Milady, you say, not
looking up, and wishing
you hadn’t said that.
Let’s mount this pony, she says.
Whoa, cowgirl, you tell her. We
still have to put the saddle on.
Oh, right. Sorry, Nick.
Let me do the saddle, it’s kind of heavy.
Want me to help you, Nick?
I’m good.
But you’re not, ’cause you stumble,
fall flat
on your rumpelstiltskin.
Having trouble over there? Mom hollers, laughing.
Now April’s trying not to laugh. And failing.
Even the horse got jokes. He neighs.
Let me help you up, cowboy, April says, grinning.
You okay?
I’m good.
You said that before, Mom hollers. Still laughing.
You jump up, saddle the horse.
Yep, let me help you up.
Mom comes over with her horse.
I’ve got an idea, Nicky, she says. It’s her first time, so
one of us needs to pull
April’s horse around
until she gets the feel for it.
I thought you were going to do it, Mom?
Uh, no, Momma’s gonna be riding.
Well, I can’t do it.
I’m riding too.
I’ll be fine, Mrs. Hall, April says.
Mom shoots you a look.
Here’s my idea, she says.
How about for the first few times
around the field,
April rides with you.
Solves all our problems, right?
Sounds like a plan to me, April says.
Blackjack.
Afterward
PLEASE, MOM!
We just want to
go to the mall.
It’s not that late.
Her parents said
she could go.
We’re just gonna
walk around,
maybe see
a movie.
Her friend
Charlene can meet us
there too.
You can come also.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
By the way, would you mind
sitting a few rows in front of us,
like maybe, uh, twenty-one?
You absolutely love
it each time
a zombie
lunges at a human
and chomps on flesh
because it makes April
grab the legs
next to hers,
one of which
is yours.
Thank You
I had a great time with you
and your mom. Your parents rock!
You’re so lucky. Guess I am.
Later, at Dinner
Mom and Dad stop whispering
when you get to the table.
Nicky, I made your favorite, she says. Lobster
mac-and-cheese. Figured you needed
a break from the mustard. We both kinda laugh.
And I even made cupcakes. Red velvet, Dad adds.
By made, your father means he MADE
his way to the cupcakery and bought them.
We all laugh, and it feels
like love is back,
like home again,
just like it’s supposed
to feel.
Conversation with Mom and Dad
Nicky?
Yep, Mom?
I’m leaving on Thursday.
What do you mean?
I’ve got to get back to work, honey.
But you’re coming back, right?
To visit.
Huh? I don’t understand.
The Derby’s coming up. It’s my obligation to get Bite My Dust prepared. You understand, right, Nicky? They need me.
But I thought you quit, Mom.
Quit? Why would I—
I mean, it’s just that me, you, and Dad have been . . . I mean, things are normal again.
Nicholas, your mother and I have decided to get a divorce.
A DIVORCE? But, I thought, uh, I just . . . I, we—
I was afraid of this, Dad says to Mom.
Afraid of WHAT, that I would think you two would get your life together and not ruin mine again?
Your father and I love each other, and we always will, but sometimes life and work and love don’t all mesh.
I don’t even know what that means.
Nicholas, your mother and I are just, uh, uncompossible.
It’s IN, incompossible,* not UN. Look it up, you say, and start getting up from the table.
We’re sorry, honey.
Yeah, me too. Sorry some horse’s needs are more important than mine.
Nicky, come back. Let’s talk about this.
. . .
What happens to a dream destroyed?
Does it sink
like a wrecked ship in the sea?
Or wade in the water
like a boy overboard?
Maybe it just floats
around and around . . .
or does it drown?
On the way to the airport
Mom tells you
how proud
she is
of the man
you’re becoming
and makes you
promise to
call
or text her
every day,
eat healthier,
quit cutting
your nails
on the living room floor, and
keep your
grades up.
Maybe you and Coby want to come to the Derby, she adds.
No thanks, we have soccer obligations, you answer.
Sinking
In the car
on the way home
the engine battles
the hum of silence and
sadness
that envelops
you.
He finally says something . . . random.
Nicholas, the world is an infinite sea of endless possibility.
Yeah, well, it feels like there’s a big freakin’ hole in my ship, Dad.
Conversation with Dr. Fraud
Is Eminem your favorite rapper?
Huh?
The last time we spoke, you were quoting him.
He’s not my favorite rapper, though.
Well, I’m more old school. Ever heard of the Fresh Prince?
The old TV show?
Yeah,
but he’s also a rapper.
Okay.
How did you decide to handle the bullying?
It’s handled.
So it’s not an issue?
I don’t think so.
And what about your bike?
Uh, what about it?
Do you want it back?
Those hellkites* are gone, so that’s all I really wanted.
Nice word. Your mother mentioned you were exceptionally articulate.
Didn’t really have a choice about that.
What do you mean?
My father forces me to read his dictionary. Has since I was nine.
What don’t you like about it?
The part where I have to READ it.
Would you rather not be exceptionally articulate?
Maybe.
So you’d just prefer to be normal?
I guess.