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Allen and I ignored him until he grabbed a handful of chips from Allen’s tray and started stuffing them in his face. Nate made mouth noises like an idiot and had the entire cafeteria cracking up. Allen started crying and finally ran out of the lunchroom. I told Nate he was a stupid moron and that only cowards make fun of other people. I didn’t care what people thought of me, I had to say something. Then Nate grabbed my hand, like he was gay, and blinked at me. “Hey sweetheart,” he said. “You sure have some great–looking boobies.” Then he looked at his friends, sitting a couple of tables away. “Slim Jim is upset,” he said while batting his eyes. Kids started laughing, which usually makes Nate worse, but then Spencer came over and told Nate to knock it off. “Leave those guys alone,” he said. “They’re not hurting anyone.” Nate smirked and acted like he was going to smart mouth Spencer, but with Spencer standing there all cool, and the added fact that he is a starting player on the JV soccer team, Nate patted Spencer on the back, and said, “Okay, that’s cool, man. I get what you’re trying to say. Those guys aren’t worth my time.” Then Nate saluted Spencer and went back to his table. Spencer gave me a look that said, “Sorry, I tried.” But I felt pretty good that Spencer had taken up for Allen and me. Other than my parents and a few friends at youth group, no one had ever done that before.
    Monday, 11–6
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    If it isn’t one friend it’s another. Now Allen doesn’t want to go back to the cafeteria. Not because of Nate, but because someone told his parents that he ran out of there crying, and now they are really steamed. They went to the principal’s office and demanded that he do something about the way kids act at lunch. The principal called an assembly over the whole issue and talked about treating one another with respect. It felt like the entire student body was watching Allen and me, sitting like two fat dweebs in the freshman section. It was about the most awful ordeal I have ever been through. At lunch, we sat alone, hardly speaking, feeling like outcasts, like the untouchables we read about last year when we were studying the caste system in India. I went from Mr. Incredible to Mr. Untouchable pretty fast. The entire school looks weird now, like a beige and gray prison haunted by sneering pod people.
    Then, to make matters worse, the principal called our parents in, and now we all have to have a big meeting about the entire incident. I begged my parents not to get involved, but Spencer told his parents the kids were really mean to me too. “Why didn’t you say anything?” my mom asked. I tried to tell her that ratting out the other kids would only make matters worse. That it’s not as bad for me as it is for Allen. But they want to meet with the principal anyway. And they want to meet with Nate and his parents. I can’t believe Spencer told his parents about the lunchroom disaster. Doesn’t he realize he’s made things worse? My life was hell before, and now it’s going to belike living in ten hells. In math class, Nate whispered that I better not rat on him in the meeting. “Unless you’re a big kindergarten baby and need Mommy and Daddy to hold your dick for you,” he sneered. Monday’s the meeting, and my mom offered to drive Allen and me to school. Gee, golly, I feel lucky.
    Maybe we’ll move again this weekend.
    Tuesday, 11–7
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    We have a study hall in math today because Mr. L’s sick, and the sub didn’t know what else to do. I’m caught up on all my work except this journal, which goes on forever. So, now I’m working on English in math.
    We had our big meeting this morning—I had to miss science class because of it. Nate glared at me when the office helper