When all of the technology was removed, Ms. Holiday escorted him through the Playground to the tubes that led to the secret lockers. Agent Brand was waiting for him by the exit with an outstretched hand.
“I’m sorry this didn’t work out, son,” he said.
Jackson nodded. He turned and looked at the Playground for what he assumed would be the very last time. Duncan, Flinch, and Matilda stood nearby looking on. When they realized he had seen them, they tumbled over themselves to hide.
“A few of them will miss you,” Ms. Holiday said. “Even if they won’t say it to your face. I’ll miss you too.”
“This is for the best,” Jackson said as he pushed a button on the wall. The tube opened and he stepped inside. Jackson shot up and tumbled into the halls of the school, just as Brett and a group of his former friends walked past.
“Hey, loser,” they said.
Jackson didn’t argue. For once, Brett Bealer was right.
Sadly, losing his role in the team did not make Jackson’s life any easier. He found it impossible to slip back into the routine of school. Nathan Hale Elementary was now far too distracting. It was brimming with secrets, and Jackson couldn’t help but look for them. Every fire drill or pep assembly meant that something exciting was happening, and Jackson was no longer a part of it. The team treated him like he was invisible. Even the lunch lady turned a cold shoulder to Jackson. It was difficult to have such exciting memories and no one to share them with.
One afternoon Jackson stepped into Mr. Pfeiffer’s class and noticed that the NERDS were missing. Jackson didn’t think much about it at first, assuming the team was on a mission. But the next day they didn’t come to school, either. On the third day he wondered if everything was all right, but Mr. Brand and Ms. Holiday weren’t around to ask. He was about to march right into the Playground for answers when he was confronted by Mr. Dehaven.
“Mr. Jones, just the man I was looking for,” the stocky little man said. He clamped his hand down on Jackson’s arm and dragged him down the hallway to his office. There Jackson found his father.
“Jackson, I am so disappointed,” his father said.
“What’s wrong?”
“Mr. Jones, do you recall a certain test you had to take in Mr. Pfeiffer’s classroom last week?”
Jackson’s heart sank. He had completely forgotten about the test.
“Today I got the results of that test. It appears you failed. In fact, not only did you fail, but you got a zero. Do you recall how much of a percentage this test was worth for your final grade?”
“Fifty percent,” Jackson mumbled.
“And you got a zero.” He turned to Jackson’s father. “Mr. Jones, I’ve seen a million children like your son, and I have to say I’m concerned for his future. He lacks a certain level of dedication and ambition. Sad, because I’m told you were a first-class athlete and well liked when you were a student here.”
“Grades were never my thing,” Jackson’s father mumbled as if it were his fault Jackson was failing.
Dehaven ignored the comment. “Luckily, there’s a remedy for this behavior. Your son is going to repeat the fifth grade.”
“He flunked?” Mr. Jones exclaimed. “It’s only October!”
“Yes, I’m afraid he has,” Dehaven replied. “There’s nothing he can do to get back on track now.”
“Jackson, what is going on with you?” his father asked.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me. I’m your father. Tell me what’s going on,” he demanded.
“Fine!” Jackson jumped out of his seat. “I was part of a secret agency that operates out of this school called the National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society, and it’s made up of nerds. Each of us has enhanced abilities, and we tried to save the world from a lunatic. I was drafted right after I got my braces, and I was training to become a full member, but I stunk, the other team members hated me, and I quit.”
Jackson’s father and Mr. Dehaven were speechless.
“That’s what I’ve been doing,” Jackson asked.
“If you only used that kind of creativity in your classes, you wouldn’t be flunking!” his father shouted.
“Hey,” Chaz said when Jackson got home after school. His older brother was wearing his gear and clutching a football in his hand. “Heard you flunked. What a dork!”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Jackson said.
“Good, I don’t want to hear it,” Chaz said as he pushed his way past him. “Out of my way. I’m late for practice.”
“Where’s Dad?” Jackson said, before his brother was out of earshot.
“He’s upstairs on the computer. He’s looking up military schools to send you to,” Chaz called back as he disappeared down the street.
On his way into the kitchen, Jackson noticed that his brother had left his helmet on the counter. He grabbed it and rushed to the door, but his brother was nearly at the end of the block. Chaz’s coach would chew him out if he showed up without a helmet. Jackson raced down the street after him.
Chaz walked down Chambers Street and made a right at Beacon, which wasn’t that odd, except his brother’s school was in the opposite direction. Something was wrong. Jackson felt that old familiar tingle that told him he was about to discover a secret.
He continued down the street but kept a safe distance to make sure Chaz didn’t spot him. Chaz went down Beacon, then made a left onto Hamilton Drive. There he turned down a nameless alley and stopped outside of a gated junkyard. Jackson watched his brother slip through a hole in the gate.
“What is he doing?” Jackson said to himself. He rushed across the street and peeked through the hole. He could see Chaz rummaging through the garbage. He found an old tin can and tossed it on the ground. Then he kicked it about the abandoned lot.
Jackson slipped through the gate and followed as closely as he could. He saw his brother plop down on the backseat of an old car and pull a paperback book out of his uniform pants. He leaned back and buried his nose in the story.
“Reading can be dangerous,” Jackson said as he tossed his brother his helmet. “You might need this.”
Chaz leaped to his feet. “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Did you follow me?”
“You forgot your helmet. I was being a nice guy by bringing it to you.”
“Thanks, now go home,” Chaz demanded.
“You’re not on the team anymore, are you?” Jackson said.
Chaz frowned. He kicked the car seat and then plopped back down on it as if in defeat. “I got cut.”
Jackson’s eyes widened. “They kicked you off the team? What did you do?”
“Nothing. I’m just not good enough,” Chaz said.
Jackson sat down on the other half of the car seat. “But—”
“Everything’s harder in high school,” Chaz explained. “Everyone is good. I’m not special anymore.”
“How long has this been going on?”
Chaz shook his head in disgust. “I got cut on the second day.”
“So you’ve been suiting up every day and coming to the junkyard to read?”
Chaz winced and nodded. “After the look of disappointment Dad gave you when you got booted off your team, I just couldn’t tell him. Sports mean so much to him.”
“Oh, how the mighty have fallen.” Jackson laughed. “We used to be the coolest brothers in Arlington, Virginia. Now look at us. You’ve become a reader and I’m pretty much friendless. I can’t even get the nerds to hang out with me.”
Chaz laughed. “I’m like a total nerd now. My only friend is Barney Tennant.”
“Barney Tennant? You mean the kid who is always picking his nose in public?”
“That’s him,” Chaz said. “He’s my BFF.”
The boys broke into hysterical laughter.
“We’re complete losers,” Jackson said.