My Life as a Cartoonist (12 page)

“You left out a few classics,” Mr. Owens pipes up from the back of the room.

I watch as Matt decides whether to include Mr. Owens in the conversation or keep going. To my surprise, he plows straight ahead, ignoring him. “Let's talk about the two main characters in a buddy movie and how they're usually opposites.”

“Not always,” Mr. Owens says. “But it makes for better conflict if they are.”

Matt leans his head against the Smart Board. I know he wants to tell Mr. Owens to shut up but, of course, he can't. I try to help by asking about one of the movies on the list.

“Do you have a clip from that one?” I ask, knowing full well he does.

“Good idea. Let's go to a clip.” Matt plays a few scenes from the buddy movie on his laptop, which he's connected to the projector. Soon everyone's laughing and back on track.

Mr. Owens focuses on his work for the rest of the hour and it's obvious when everyone gets up to leave they enjoyed Matt's club.

“Next week, holiday comedies.” As Matt gathers up his notes, I can tell he's happy with his accomplishment, already brainstorming ideas for future meetings.

We rush out of the room before Mr. Owens finishes with his papers so we don't have to listen to his suggestions.

“He's just supposed to be in the room,” Matt says as we head to our lockers. “He's not supposed to
contribute
.”

Ms. Ramirez, the art teacher, is monitoring my club on Thursday; Ms. McCoddle offered to do it but the principal decided to appoint her as head of the English Committee, basically canceling all her free time. I pray Ms. Ramirez is less intrusive than Mr. Owens. But what makes me come to a grinding halt isn't the thought of Ms. Ramirez ruining my club but what I see at the end of the hallway. Matt also stops, both of us frozen in front of the science lab.

“Is that … Carly?” Matt whispers.

I nod, too surprised to form words.

“Kissing Crash?!”

We silently back up the hall before Carly sees us.

Carly Has a Boyfriend?!

“It's inconceivable!” I say when we get outside.

“You mean it's inconceivable that Carly has a boyfriend and it isn't YOU?” Matt adds.

“What are you talking about? I didn't say that.”

Matt shoves his index cards into his backpack. “No, I'M saying that. You've had a crush on her from Day One.”

“Are you kidding?” I yell. “We HATED her in the beginning!”

“I mean after we became friends with her, whatever day that was.” He zips up his pack. “If you don't like her, then why do you care?”

“Don't make this about me. You're as shocked as I am she's making out with Crash.”

Matt smirks, as if getting me upset is part of his master plan. “I'm surprised she's with Crash, but I'm not half as upset as you are.”

“I AM NOT UPSET!”

This statement is so ludicrous I have no choice but to join Matt in his laughter.

“I'm just shocked. I mean, Crash is so—”

“—Much cooler than we are?” Matt interrupts.

I don't admit to Matt that the reason I'm having a hard time with Carly going out with Crash isn't because the guy's too cool but because he's actually
nice
.

I don't often work in my mother's office but one day last year I was helping her organize some samples when Crash came in with his father and their cat that wouldn't stop scratching. As I watched from the hall, an older woman came out of one of the exam rooms, crying because her dog had just been put to sleep. My mother had her arm around the woman as she headed toward the exit. The woman told my mom she was fine but when she started crying all over again, it was Crash who jumped up from his seat to grab the woman's arm and help her to the door. I was nearby but, I'm ashamed to admit, frozen by the woman's grief. It's easy for Matt and me to make fun of Crash but I know there's more to him than just his surfer vocabulary and skateboarding skills.

“Hey, guys! What are you still doing here?”

Matt and I freeze at the sound of Carly's voice. Thankfully she's by herself.

Matt tells her today was the debut of his comedy club. While he discusses the class, I check Carly out with new eyes. She is smart and her newfound confidence from surfing has made her more attractive too. Her hair is lighter from all the time she's spending outside.

Neither Matt nor I have ever gone out with anyone; I guess I never thought Carly would beat us to that milestone. I try not to think of her differently as she talks to Matt now, but I have to admit, I do.

“You want to get some frozen yogurt?” she asks.

Matt gives me a look, asking me what I think. I say sure and we head toward Wilshire. We talk about the shocking piles of homework Ms. Decker's been handing out and how Swifty had to get stitches on his forehead after tripping in a puddle of his own sweat in gym class. As I watch Carly do her impersonation of Swifty, all I can think of is Crash—and how lucky he is to have Carly as a girlfriend.

Lots of Preparation

The next few days I'm so focused on preparing for cartoon club that I fail a math test and forget to walk Snickers, who ends up peeing all over the rug in Mom's office. Neither of these events bothers me much but I do feel bad about missing time with Bodi. He's been more lethargic than usual, so I promise myself to spend some time with him after Thursday's meeting.

As I told Ms. McCoddle, Ms. Ramirez, and anyone else who'd listen, I hardly consider myself an illustration expert; I just want to talk about drawing cartoons. Two of the kids who signed up—Terry and Tommy, identical twins who I've never been in class with—do these hilarious drawings of cats with bloodshot eyes and razor-like claws that I've seen plastered around school. My guess is that they were influenced by
Ren and Stimpy
, and I can't wait to talk to them about it.