Stupid Fast

Jerri has bad memories about Steven’s “angry music” and asks if Felton wants to be with his dad. Felton insists he does not know what she means and deflects by saying he feels trapped. Jerri confides that she is now seeing a therapist who is also worried about Felton. Felton tells Jerri that she needs the therapist.

Felton takes his irritation out on Andrew, telling him he saw a girl who plays piano better than him. Andrew knows the girl is Aleah Jennings, a 16-year-old musical prodigy. He follows her blog. Andrew has Jerri invite Aleah over for tea the next day. Thinking about Aleah makes Andrew feel inadequate and jealous. He has a tantrum, screaming and crying that he hates her. Felton thinks about his family’s behaviors and history, including himself finding his dad hanging in the garage, and thinks he “grew up thinking crazy was normal” (61). He gets a call from Cody Frederick who apologizes for Ken Johnson’s meanness. Felton feels that the only positive thing about himself is his speed, and that Cody is the only one being nice to him, so he agrees to attend weight training the next day.