The Chamber of Five (18 page)

I’ll be leaving Lambert at the end of the year. I don’t belong there, and my mom agreed to let me transfer to another school. A public school. I plan on studying construction management in college. My dad disagrees, but he’s learning that I’m not him.

Thomas Singletary taught me a big lesson in life, and I’m grateful for it. But he still scares the hell out of me. His father’s death damaged him, but I’m hoping the counseling will help. His justice isn’t the kind I believe in, but it’s hard to dispute his rage, because the system I want so much to believe in is messed up. Those lines of power need to be there, but he helped me see that sometimes they get directed in a way that does more damage than good. My dad is a perfect example of that.

More than anything, I wish life could be simple. I wish Thomas and I could be closer friends. I wish Carter wasn’t insane. I wish guys like Michael Woodside who know what’s right and want to do right didn’t have to play the game to
survive. I wish Kennedy would voluntarily staple his mouth shut.

I guess I wish the world could be the way it is when I’m with Brooke. Sweet. I’m taking her out for burgers later, and the most popular kid at Lambert is joining us. Yeah. Elvis. You rock.

I’d like to thank Kimberly Harmon. The strongest woman I know. George Nicholson, my agent. No words from a high school dropout can describe my respect for you. Thanks, George. Joan Slattery, senior executive editor, Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, my fantastic and so cool editor, thank you. My thanks also go to Erin Clarke, executive editor, Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers. I’d also like to thank every person out there who has done what they know is right. Even if it hurts to do it.

Michael Harmon was born in Los Angeles and now lives in the Pacific Northwest. He dropped out of high school as a senior and draws on many of his experiences in his award-winning fiction for young adults.

To learn more about Michael Harmon and his books, please visit
booksbyharmon.com
.