Chapter 23: Another Poorly Thought-Out Lie

School ended and I glumly marched towards room 104 as I’d been instructed in order to receive my due punishment.

Showing up at exactly the wrong moment was Gary, huffing and puffing down the hallway towards me.

“Dude! Wait up!” he called.

Talk about torn. Did I slow down and awkwardly lie to my best friend (who I’d managed to avoid all day) about what had happened last night? Or continue on to detention?

It was a tough call that I didn’t get the chance to make as he sprinted the last few yards to ensure that he’d intersect me before I left the land of the non-detentioned.

“Man, I’ve been looking for you all day,” he said.

“Yeah,” I started. “About last night. I know my folks called yours, so you’re probably wondering-“

“Cool. Cool. Later, OK? I’ve been going nuts keeping this thing hidden. Here.”

And he shoved the kukri into my hands.

“Are you crazy?” I asked. “Why’d you bring this to school?”