Introduction

I’m a freshman at Knappa High School and Maki and I are in Mr. Erickson’s current-events class. Mr. Erickson is droning on about … something. Maki is chewing on a piece of paper and rolling it in a ball and stuffing it into a fat red-and-white straw from lunch. Just as Mr. Erickson is emphasizing “government regulations,” there’s a loud thwack, and a white glob sticks to the blackboard just behind the teacher’s left ear. I hear Maki’s low, maniacal giggle and I begin to laugh. Continue reading →