The Twin Powers (20 page)

NEARMONT, N.J.

2011

 

Zero tolerance?

I have to explain everything to Eddie. It's not because he's slow or because he's a jock, even though he is slow and he is a jock. It's because, even though our planets are similar in most ways, there's one big difference: His planet is at least fifty years behind Earth. He calls his planet Earth, too, which is confusing. I call his planet EarthTwo because it's younger than my Earth.

Eddie and I are identical twins, born a minute apart. I'm the older one, like my planet.

I beamed a thought at him:

Zero tolerance means one strike and you're out. You're toast. Forked. Expelled.

Not fair, Tommy. People deserve second chances. You had a good reason. You were protecting other kids.

Tell it to the principal.

Maybe I will. When I come to visit.

Eddie says things like that to tease me. Well, the truth is I put words like that in his mouth to tease myself. It's one thing to stand in the backyard having an imaginary conversation with your imaginary twin on an imaginary planet. It's another thing to imagine the two of you together for real. How great would that be? A best friend who's your twin brother? That's not imagination. That's being insane.

So what's up, pup?

Eddie's always coming up with these bizarro old-fashioned expressions. Sometimes I Google them. They're always expressions that were cool in the twentieth century.

No big deal, Eddie. I've been expelled before. I get to stay home for a few days, read, run some games, play my violin.

It's so groovy you can do stuff like that. I'd just practice my jump shot.

I don't even have a jump shot.

I'll show you. It's easy, not like playing the violin or reading. So, what happens after a few days?

Mom comes up with a new school for me, and I go back to the land of the undead.

Think positive, Tommy. I know you'll find a school that appreciates you. You are one special cat.

Dad always said, “Nobody's special.”

Yeah, but Dad always said, “Everybody's special.”

I miss him.

Me, too. That's why we've got to keep remembering him.

The back door slammed. “Who's out there?”

It was the Lump, Mom's tenant. He acts like it's his house.

I must have been talking out loud again. Eddie and I usually talk inside my head, but sometimes I get carried away and treat Eddie like he's real.

Gotta go, bro. It's the Lump.

Give him a chance. Find the good in him. Get him on your team.

That's Eddie. A good guy. My opposite.

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R
OBERT
L
IPSYTE
is an Emmy Award–winning TV host and former
New York Times
journalist, and has served as ombudsman for ESPN. He is also the author of many books for YA readers, including the classic
The Contender,
and has received the Margaret A. Edwards Award for his body of work. Mr. Lipsyte's previous book for Clarion is
The Twinning Project
which
Kirkus Reviews
called “A multi-world adventure starring a band of heroes that readers will want to join.” He lives in New York City and Shelter Island with his wife, Lois Morris, and their dog, Milo.

 

www.robertlipsyte.com