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“Can I go now?” Marvin asked.
“No,” said his father.
He watched his mother read the report card. Then she handed it to his father.
“What happened, Marvin?” his mother asked. His father was still reading it.
“Nothing.”
“Something happened,” his mother said. “I know you got in some sort of fight with Nick and Stuart. I thought it would pass. I figured you’d be friends again by now.”
“We didn’t get in a fight,” said Marvin. “They just don’t like me.”
“Why not?” asked his father.
“Because I’m disgusting. I’m the most disgusting kid in school!”
His father read aloud from the report card. “Anti-social behavior … Unsanitary habits. What did you do?”
“I picked my nose!” Marvin shouted. “I’m the world’s biggest nose picker!”
Jacob cracked up.
“Sorry, Mar,” he said.
“It’s okay,” said Marvin. “Everyone at school laughs at me too.”
“Do you want to tell us about it?” asked his mother.
“There’s nothing to tell,” said Marvin. “I’m nine years old, and my life is ruined forever. Just because Clarence hit the ball over the line.”
He told them what happened, from the wall-ball game up until his report card.
“Now even Mrs. North thinks I pick my nose.”
“What about Nick and Stuart,” said his mother. “Surely they must know—”
“They’re afraid that if they stick up for me, then everybody will say that they pick their noses too!”
“Well, if that’s how they feel, then they’re not really your friends,” said his father.
“Great,” said Marvin. “I have no friends.”
“Maybe we should talk to Mrs. North,” suggested Marvin’s mother. “And tell her you don’t pick your nose.”
“She won’t believe you,” said Marvin. “The more you say you don’t pick your nose, the more everyone thinks you do!”
His parents looked at each other.
“Jacob,” said his mother. “You’re close to Marvin’s age. Has anything like this ever happened to you?”
Jacob thought a moment. “I remember when I was in the third grade,” he said. “There was this new kid. Larry Clarksdale. Everyone used to pick on him.”
“What happened?” asked his mother.
“Uh, never mind,” said Jacob.
“What?” asked Marvin.
