“Ready to go, pal?” Joe Locke and Joey came back just before noon, as he said they would.
“Good thing it"s winter holidays,” Joey said. “I don"t have to go to that dweeb school.”
“Wish I had paid attention in school,” Errl said.
“You had friends at your school. You weren"t bullied.”
“No. I was not bullied. Poor Joey.”
“It"s because of you.”
“Yes. They think Errl is bad.”
“Joey the Freak. That"s what they call me. I don"t want to go back.”
“Joe.” His father sighed and wiped the stubble on his face. “You have to go to school, son.”
“I don"t want to go to school, Dad. Can"t I study at home?”
“I have to work and tend my traplines, Joey. You don"t have anybody at home to teach you.”
“Now that Mom"s gone.”
“Yes.” His father looked sad. Joey changed the subject.
“Dad, I really want t
