فصل 43

CHAPTER 43

Set the World on Fire

After the teasing that Albert has taken for his shirt, Keisha and I decide to do something for him. The teasing hasn’t seemed to bother him that much, but it bothers us.

So we made our own shirts to go with his.

We walk up behind him while he is organizing his papers into piles. Albert, do you like our shirts? I ask.

He turns around and stares. At me, with a shirt that says Steel, and Keisha, with a shirt that says Magnesium.

I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Albert truly confused.

Okay, Keisha says. Get it? They match your shirt. But not the genius guy alone on the rock in space with his robots thing, because I told you I thought that was a bit creepy . . .

Albert is still confused, so I interrupt. The shirts match because the three of us together are going to set the world on fire. Like Mr. Daniels says.

Yes, he says, flint, steel, and magnesium are commonly used together for fire starters. I get it.

The corner of Albert’s mouth twitches, which is like someone else doing cartwheels down the hall.

Without thinking, I yell to Shay across the room, Hey! You tease one of us, you tease all of us!

Shay has an expression like she’s just smelled rotten meat and it makes Keisha and me laugh really hard.

Then I pat Albert on the back. Just wanted you to know that you can always count on us.

Well, that would make you either a set of fingers or an abacus.

Uh, Albert. Seriously? Keisha shakes her head and then leans forward. It means we think you’re a cool dude.

We’re allies. I smile.

He goes back to arranging his papers.

Yes, I know, he says softly. I am most grateful.