Anything But Typical

Jason ends a chapter of his story on a cliffhanger: A doctor offers Bennu “a cure for dwarfism” (93). The chapter closes with the doctor’s announcement that he can cure Bennu and eradicate dwarfism forever. Jason decides to post this new section of story with a message to PhoenixBird that reveals his real name. He hopes this will entice her to respond with her own.

Later that day, in PE class, one of the boys that eats lunch with Aaron taunts Jason about his new girlfriend. Jason gets really hot and uncomfortable wondering for a moment if this boy somehow knows that PhoenixBird is not really his girlfriend. When the boy declares that PhoenixBird’s real name is “retardo girl” (95), Jason realizes he is just being mean. As the PE teacher throws basketballs, Jason thinks of the word “lexicon.”  

Jason’s old dog Lester died a year ago. When Jason was four years old, he adopted Lester from the shelter. It was very difficult for Jason to choose just one dog; he worried about whether the others would be adopted. Jason was drawn to Lester because Lester was the only one not jumping around, but just trembling. After bringing Lester home, Jason slept with the dog on his bed.