Read Online Schooled by Gordon Korman - Free Book Online Page A

Dad around. Mom was so nice, so kind, so understanding that she made the rest of us seem like insensitive jerks. But Dad took one look at Cap Anderson and instantly understood my side of the story. Moments like this really made me miss him when he was away, which was most of the time.
    Dad waved to our houseguest as he walked me to the door. “Nice moves, kid. I used to do a little kendo in my younger days.” He could make conversation with a brick wall—part of his salesman DNA.
    Cap looked disapproving. “That’s with swords, isn’t it? Rain would never teach me anything that uses weapons.”
    Dad nodded in agreement. “We trained with padded sticks so no one got hurt—purely ceremonial. It was all about pressure points and energy flow. I’ll show you, one of these days.”
    To me, he said, “Gotta run. But first—” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small jewelry box. “—belated birthday present.”
    Yeah, seven months belated.
    I took it from him, thrilled. It was a silver bangle, set with multicolored stones. “Love it. Thanks, Dad.”
    I was about to try it on when he snatched it back. “Not so fast. I just wanted to make sure you like it before I have it engraved.”
    Cap stared at the bracelet, hypnotized. “That,” he said in a hushed voice, “is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
    Leave it to him. The kid grew up surrounded by wooden planks and fertilizer—the shiniest object in his life was probably an old pitchfork. No wonder he took a few rhinestones for the crown jewels.
    Dad tried to make it into a joke. “I guess you don’t get out much.”
    “I didn’t get out at all until I came here. We never left Garland except to lay in supplies.”
    Dad looked profoundly interested. “I forgot—you’re from Garland. Sophie’s mom grew up there. What’s it like these days?”
    There followed a description of this year’s turnip crop that would have put a Tasmanian devil to sleep. Dad was classy. He looked totally fascinated by the whole thing. But every now and then he would shoot me a smirk that had me thinking sad thoughts just to keep from cracking up.
    Oh, it was great to have Dad back again!

 
    14
    NAME: CAPRICORN ANDERSON
    It was true that I now knew 129 people. But in a school of 1,100, that hardly made a dent.
    Rain always said, “Don’t give up, and don’t give in.” Of course, she was talking about civil rights or protesting a war or something. But I was sure it counted for this too.
    The good news was that more students were coming up to me, which was a chance for me to ask their names. Usually, they wanted to talk about the time I drove Mr. Rodrigo to the hospital. I was amazed that people seemed less interested in Mr. Rodrigo’s recovery than the details of how he got to the emergency room.
    Rain explained it to me the last time I spoke to her on the phone. “That’s society for you, Cap. Following rules is more important than living your life. The law says you can’t drive until you’re sixteen. So if somebody does it, it’s a huge deal. You should feel sorry for these poor kids. They’re prisoners, and they don’t even know it.”
    “That explains why Sophie is so obsessed with getting her license,” I concluded.
    “Exactly. What’s a license? A piece of paper. That’s the real story, Cap—that we’ve allowed ourselves to be enslaved by our own laws.”
    She was so sensible. I wish I could have talked to her twenty times a day. It was almost like I was piloting a ship through a blinding fog, and Rain was an experienced captain. I wished I could have asked her how to play every wave. But it just wasn’t possible.
    “Are you feeling better? When can we both go home?”
    “Soon, Cap,” she promised. “And in the meantime, you stay true to yourself. Don’t change because everybody around you is spiritually handicapped. I don’t know this Sophie girl, but her mother, Floramundi—well, let’s say that she wasn’t one of Garland’s