Also Known as Rowan Pohi Read Free Page A

I could almost understand why Mom had kept going and didn't turn back.
    I passed Jitterbug's Coffee Shoppe and spotted the sign for Vanderbilt Boulevard half a block ahead. That was my signal to turn right.
    I wasn't really angry at Mom for leaving. I couldn't hold it against her. Not after what my father did. I could understand why she skipped out on us. Almost. But I couldn't do what she did. I didn't feel like I was better than her; just different. Whenever I went out to run, I curved like a boomerang, traveling far and wide but then bending around and heading toward home. I always came back.

THREE
    T HREE DAYS LATER I FOUND IN OUR MAILBOX A SLENDER envelope with a single sheet of paper inside.
    Â 
Dear Rowan,
We appreciate your interest in Whitestone. During the past two years we have worked hard to bring in a more diverse student population. After carefully reviewing your application, plus the enthusiastic letter of recommendation from Mr. Ramón García, the admissions committee has decided that you would be a strong addition to our learning community. Congratulations, Rowan! Allow me to extend my personal welcome to Whitestone Preparatory School.
A detailed letter will follow. Please do not lose it! This letter will contain important information pertaining to necessary medical forms, the academic calendar, scheduled tuition payments, and school uniforms. The first day of school is August 26. I look forward to meeting you then.
 
Sincerely,
 
Melody Ryder

Director of Admissions
 
PS: This acceptance is conditional upon our receiving a satisfactory transcript (including grades) from your previous school in a timely fashion.
    Â 
    Sitting on the cement stairs, I slowly reread the letter. A car alarm started beeping, but I didn't even look up. When I was convinced that the letter was real, I ran inside, grabbed my phone, and texted Marcus and Big Poobs.
    Urgent. Meet at IHOP 3:30.
    When I got there it was after the lunch hour but too early for dinner, so the restaurant was nearly empty. The hostess let us have our favorite booth by the window.
    "He got in!" I blurted out.
    The blank way Marcus and Big Poobs stared at me, you would have thought I was speaking Mandarin Chinese.
    "He got accepted!" I repeated.
    "Who?"
    "Rowan! He got accepted at Whitestone!"
    Marcus smiled. "Bullshit."
    Big Poobs wasn't buying it either, so I had to whip out the acceptance letter. They lunged at it like two piranhas hitting a piece of bloody meat—I swear, they practically ripped it in half—and still didn't believe me until they held that letter in their hands and read it with their own eyes.
    Then all three of us erupted. We started laughing, high-fiving, power-bumping, whooping it up so much the waitress gave us an evil look and marched toward our table.
    "Shut up!" I hissed at Marcus and Big Poobs. Today of all days I didn't want to get thrown out.
    "Sorry," I mumbled to our waitress.
    She glared at me but took our drink order and left.
    "That is money!" Marcus softly exclaimed, pointing at the letter.
    "Not bad." I was trying to be cool but couldn't keep the goofy grin off my face.
    Big Poobs looked both happy and bewildered. "What the...? I mean, how did—?"
    "It worked!" Marcus whispered softly. "We did it! Rowan rules!"
    At that moment four Whitestone students entered the restaurant and settled in a few tables away. The sight of four actual flesh-and-blood Stonys caused us to lose it completely. We collapsed into uncontrollable laughter, especially Big Poobs. He howled silently until he had tears running down his fat face.
    "But now what?" Marcus finally said.
    The waitress brought our drinks, and for the next minute we sipped without saying a word. We didn't know what to do next, not really. Deep down none of us ever thought Rowan would actually get accepted to Whitestone.
    "I propose a toast," Big Poobs said, lifting his root beer. "To Rowan Pohi!"
    "Hear, hear!"
    I fired a finger gun at Marcus. "That