Chapter ThreeTHE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR was the most turbulent in young Arthur Latimere’s life. Old Mr. McDaniels had packed up his daughter and moved. Arthur still felt a pang when he thought about Patty, but it was only a harbinger of things to come. Now, his only anchor, ever at his side, was his best friend forever, Billy Huff.
October came, and a bright red boil formed on the tip of Arthur’s nose. For days that seemed like years he went to school with a hand covering the angry red swelling, and hoped none of the girls noticed it, but everybody did. Every passing day it grew bigger and redder. He squeezed it every morning and after school.
Once, his mother caught him in front of the mirror. “Arty, stop it. Squeezing a boil on your face can damage your brain!” But at 11 years old, nobo
