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Authors: Doug Wilhelm

BOOK: The Revealers
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I knew that was a feeble explanation. But Dr. Bennett said, “Absolutely. Because you showed people how it really is.”
“We just let people tell their stories,” Catalina said. “As soon as they could, they seemed to want to.”
“It just happened,” Elliot said. “Then when we weren't allowed to use the network anymore …”
“You weren't what?”
Elliot stopped. Dr. Bennett looked at each of us.
“What do you mean?”
“Well,” Elliot said. “Ah …”
“Student access to the network was restricted,” I said. “We're not allowed to use it to communicate anymore. None of the kids are.”
Dr. Bennett turned around. “Why not?” he said to the principal.
“A … disciplinary measure,” she said.
Dr. Bennett's bright eyes flicked at us, then he turned back to her. “No doubt you had to do it,” he said in an understanding voice.
“Why, yes,” Mrs. Capelli said. “There was some very irresponsible use of the network. There's no need to name names.” She glanced at us, and smiled strangely.
“You've got a tough job to do,” Dr. Bennett said to the principal in a reassuring way. “And it's not surprising that there were some problems—I mean, considering how new the network was. Still, I think you and your staff just deserve
tremendous credit for opening the network to young people, and for cultivating this kind of creativity on it.”
Mrs. Capelli swallowed.
“I really mean that,” he said.
“Why … thank you.”
“And I'm sure you're also teaching a valuable lesson with this suspension of privileges.”
“I believe so. Yes.”
“I assume it's only a suspension, of course.”
“Why … yes. Of course.”
He nodded, thoughtfully. “Did you say how long that's for?”
Mrs. Capelli paused.
“For two weeks,” she said.
Dr. Bennett nodded again, his chin in his hand. He glanced back at the screen. “Two weeks of silence, to appreciate … communication. Why, Mrs. Capelli. How very appropriate.”
The principal actually blushed.
Dr. Bennett turned back to us. “So those stories you got,” he said. “They grew into this?”
“Yeah!” I said. “I mean, yes. With a lot of help.”
“I see that,” Dr. Bennett said. “Absolutely a remarkable piece of work. Well,” he said, pushing his chair back and standing up. “I suppose we'd better pay some attention to the other exhibits, eh, fellow judges?”
But before he left, he shook each of our hands again. And I swear—Elliot and Catalina say they never saw this—but I swear he winked.
“Thanks,” I said.
“Thank you.”
When the judges left, Mrs. Capelli stayed. She looked at each of us. Then she sighed.
“I admit, I had my trepidations about this project,” she
said. “But the judges are very impressed—and … well, I have to say, I can see why.”
“Did you mean it about the network?” Elliot said.
“Of course I meant it. You're the ones who lost the students' access. I suppose it's only fitting that you should be the ones to win it back.”
She started to go after the judges. Ms. Hogeboom and Mr. Dallas were standing there. Mrs. Capelli stopped.
“Claire, Jerry,” she said, “I might thank you for bathing me in your reflected glory.”
“Not us,” Ms. Hogeboom insisted. “Thank them.”
The principal looked back at us. She … nodded. Then she took off. We watched her hurry to catch up with the judges.
“Congratulations,” Mr. Dallas said over his shoulder, as he went, too. “I think you won.”
“Sometimes I cut through here,” I told Elliot, pointing up the driveway by the police department.
“Yeah? Okay,” Elliot said, and we started up it.
It's funny how places that were once so deep and awful in your life can seem regular if you go there again. This was just an old driveway, full of bumps and cracks.
“You'd think the town would fix something like this,” Elliot said.
“Nobody much uses it,” I said. I looked across the parking lot toward Convenience Farms, where the dark shape was loitering.
“There he is.”
“I see him. Is he always here?”
“Not always. But a lot.”
I knew Richie would want to know. He would never come to the fair, or be seen showing an interest. But he would want to know.
“Hey,” I said, when we got there.
“Hey.” He nodded at Elliot. “What's goin' on?”
“Not enough!”
“So, Richie,” I said. “We're pretty sure we won.”
“Yeah? It went good, huh.”
“It went really good. The kids pretty much thronged us. Then when the judges came, they were totally impressed.”
“There's no way we won't win,” Elliot said.
“You should have seen it,” I said.
He snorted. “Yeah, right.”
“No, really. With the judges, it was your thing that really did it.”
“Yeah?” For a half second, the usual set expression on Richie's face opened up. Then it shut again.
“Yeah,” I said.
“They were stunned, or something,” Elliot said. “One guy said you were an incredible actor.”
“He said that?”
“Yes, he did.”
“This was a
judge?
What were they, morons?”
We stood there. “Didn't seem like it,” Elliot said.
Richie shrugged.
“We got KidNet back,” Elliot said.
Richie nodded, and looked at me. “Well,” he said. “What
do
you know.”
I smiled.
“So now you got something to do,” he said.
“Well, yeah.”
“That's good. Keep you off the streets.”
Elliot laughed. I grinned. Richie even sort of, almost, smiled. He lit a cigarette. Then he seemed to think of something. He stood up from the wall and handed me the cigarette.
“Hold this,” he said.
“What?”
“Just
hold
it. Geez.” He opened the door and went into Convenience Farms.
I just stood there. Elliot waved the smoke away. “Phew,” he said.
Richie came back out. He had a bottle of root beer.
I stood there.
With his other hand he reached out, took back the cigarette. Then he held out the root beer.
“Here,” he said. “I figure I owe you one.”
I took it, but I said, “I pretty much thought we were even.
He shrugged. “Then go away, all right? You want to wreck my reputation?” He shook his head. “Geez. Coupla
whiz
kids.”
 
We had started up Union Street, Elliot and me, heading for my house. He was going to eat dinner with us, then his mom and dad and sisters were going to meet us at the Creative Science Fair. Catalina's dad was coming, too.
I took a big swig, and handed the root beer to Elliot. We passed it back and forth. When we were done I put the cap back on tight and tossed the bottle to Elliot.
He caught it and threw it back fast. Then we were throwing the plastic bottle around, laughing, tipping it up in the air, kicking it like a hackysack, throwing it off the walls of stores and catching it. We were laughing and whooping at good catches, jumping around like a couple of little kids just let out of school.
Finally we'd laughed so hard we were both bent over, hands on our knees, trying to breathe.
“What was that about, anyway?” Elliot said, nodding to the bottle in my hand. “I mean with him.”
“It's a long story.”
“Huh.” He glanced backward, toward Convenience Farms. “You think he'll live happily ever after?”
“Who, Richie?”
“Yeah.”
I shook my head. “I don't think so.”
“No. Probably not.”
I thought about it. “Maybe some kids are mean by nature—but I don't think he is,” I said. “It's more like his life is just like that.” Then I thought I might have said too much.
But Elliot was thinking. “Maybe he'll be a movie star someday,” he said. “A tough guy.”
“Yeah! Or maybe in jail. A tough guy.”
“Yeah.”
Suddenly, as we walked along, Elliot laughed.
“I don't see him writing down
his
story any time soon,” he said.
“Oh, no.”
“You never wrote yours, either.”
I didn't answer.
“Everyone else told theirs,” he said, “but you never did. I mean, what happened with him and everything.”
“No.”
“Why not? 'Cause it's a long story?”
“No. I kind of made a promise. To him.”
“Huh,” he said. “Well, why don't you write it down now? I mean, you could show it to him. It might be okay with him now. After all this.”
“Hmm. I don't know.”
“You could! You could tell the whole story. I've still got that first thing you wrote. Remember? That's what started this whole deal.”
“I remember.”
“I'll send it back to you. Then you could write it all
down—everything.” He grinned at me. “It'd keep you off the streets.”
I laughed. I looked at the root-beer bottle that was still in my hand. It was a little sticky.
“Maybe I'll do it,” I said.
 
And so I did. Richie said it was okay, too. I was surprised, but he did.
And that's the whole story.
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The Underground Railroad
This is a story that reveals how hard middle school can really be. It makes you think twice about what you might be doing to hurt other people. Believe the unbelievable … and let Russell, Catalina, and Elliot reveal the truth.
—Kate, age 12 / Norwich, Vermont
 
This is an inspiring book about sticking up for yourself, and being brave. I believe every kid should read this book.
—Emily, age 12 / Jericho, Vermont
 
Fun, truthful, and realistic.
—Christina, age 13 / Danvers, Massachusetts
 
It was quite an experience reading this book to my homeroom reading group. There were kids speaking out who I would not have guessed would be willing to share their experiences.
The Revealers
touched a nerve.
—Mary Lou Massucco, teacher / Bellows Falls, Vermont
 
When my class read
The Revealers,
it was very addictive and I finished early. Now I'm reading it to my 18-year-old sister and my mom, and they are begging for more.
—Brian, age 12 / San Jose, California
 
This story about school bullies made me think about why kids are so mean to each other. It inspired me to step out of my clique and meet new friends, and help people who may be bullied.
—David Lackner, age 11 / “The Book That Changed Me,”
The Washington Post Book World
 
Every page and chapter rings true with the angst, isolation, drama, confusion, and humor of middle school kids trying to find their way through the cruel and complex social order of early puberty.
—Patricia S. Worsham, National Board Certified Teacher
and English Department chair / Lynchburg, Virginia
 
This book taught me how to cope with bullying. It actually really helped me. I had been having trouble fitting in and
The Revealers
allowed me to see that it was okay to be myself.
—Hannah, age 12 / Greenwood, Maine
 
This is one of the best books in a long time for getting kids to read. It's even better for getting them to write.
—Karon Perron, teacher and parent / Castleton, Vermont
 
My teenage daughter and I highly recommend this book, not only for middle school students but for parents and teachers. My advice, after you read it: pass it on and share your feelings and thoughts with others!
—Becky Carlson, coordinator, Sussex County Coalition
for Healthy and Safe Families / Newton, New Jersey

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