Mind If I Read Your Mind? Read Free

year, our school sponsors an important competition we call the Speak Out Challenge, known to those of us who love it as the S.O.C., or as we call it, SOC.”
    When Billy heard that the K was missing, the perspiration of fear behind his knees dried up immediately. However, he did make a mental note never to forget his socks again.
    â€œEach one of you will give a public address on this year’s topic,” Mr. Wallwetter explained,
    â€œand the three best speakers from each sixth-grade class will participate in the finals to be held in the auditorium next Monday. I am proud to say my class has won the finals three years in a row. I am counting on it again this year.”
    Mr. Wallwetter was a thin man with a pencil mustache above his even thinner lips. He wore a black suit to school every day, and a tie so thin it could almost be called a shoelace. As he described the Speak Out Challenge to the class, his mustache started to sweat, which gave the appearance that his nose was running. Watching him work himself up into such a frenzied state about the competition made Billy shift uneasily in his seat. Everyone in the class felt the pressure, even Rod Brownstone.
    â€œWhat are we supposed to speak out about?” Rod blurted. “Because I have a lot to say about law enforcement, especially the need to follow jaywalking rules exactly as they are written.”
    â€œThat sounds like a noble pursuit,” Mr. Wallwetter said, “but unfortunately it does not fit into this year’s topic, which is Demonstrate Something Special You Can Do . Each of you is to give a speech while demonstrating something you love to do or can do very well. Now, who has a special skill they can demonstrate?”
    Taylor Burnett, a shy boy who rarely spoke up, raised his hand tentatively.
    â€œI can catch a Frisbee with my mouth,” he said.
    â€œWhat are you, a dog?” Rod guffawed. He laughed so loud he didn’t notice that no one else was laughing. The kids liked Taylor and no one but Rod wanted to make fun of him.
    â€œNow, people, let’s break into groups and brainstorm topics,” Mr. Wallwetter said. “You’ll have a few days to prepare your speech, and then we’ll begin the competition. Remember, second place is not an option in Wallwetter’s World.”
    Billy got assigned to a group of five students. They all seemed to be brimming with ideas.
    â€œI can run a mile in seven minutes and fifty seconds,” Ruby Baker said. “I could demonstrate how I warm up.”
    â€œI can pull a quarter out of a person’s ear,” chimed in Zoe St. Clair.
    â€œI can throw a knuckleball,” Ricardo Perez offered, “or cook up a storm.” Even though he was the star of the baseball team, Ricardo was the only person who had welcomed Billy on his first day at Moorepark Middle School. And there he was, being nice again.
    â€œWhat’s your thing, Billy?” he asked. “You look like a dude of many talents.”
    Billy’s mind was racing but getting nowhere. Just the thought of standing up in front of everyone made his mind go blank with fear. He had always been that way about public speaking or performing in front of groups. In kindergarten, he had played a tube of toothpaste in the Halloween show, and when it was his turn, he couldn’t remember how to pretend to squeeze himself onto the toothbrush, played by Vivian Pomerantz. So instead he just stood in front of the class and watched in horror as a lake formed around the zipper area of his pants. It took forever to live that down.
    Even just the year before, at his old school, his throat closed up during Poetry Week when he had to recite “Casey at the Bat.” It took three trips to the water fountain for him to finish the poem. He felt no confidence about being able to do well in the SOC competition. The old panicky feelings prickled every nerve ending from his hair roots to his toenails.
    He sat in