Shawn came over to me and Cory with a newspaper rolled up in his hands. "Hey, Cory. Brought you a great article on Barry Bonds."

Cory unrolled it. "Ah, the $43-million man."

"Why do they call him that?" Minkus asked.

"Because that's what he's getting paid to play baseball for six years," I answer.

"7.16 million a year?"

"If that's what it comes out to, yeah," Shawn said.

"He happens to be one of the top guys in baseball," Cory told him.

"Well, I happen to think Mr. Feeny is one of the top guys in teaching and he makes about 40,000 a year," Minkus stated.

"That stinks," Shawn said.

"Finally. Something we agree on."

"Yeah."

"Feeny ain't worth that kind of money," Shawn said causing me to reach over and smack his arm.

"You thought I meant he was overpaid?" Minkus asked. "I meant that Mr. Feeny is grossly and tragically underpaid."

"Yeah," I say. "For once I agree with you, Stuart."

"Minkus-May I call you Minkus?" Cory asked, but continued, not caring for an answer. "Does spelling ever change? No. Does history ever change? Uh-uh. Does Feeny ever change? Never. Know why? He doesn't have to. Know why? 'Cause nothing about teaching sixth grade ever changes."

"Well, I think you're wrong," Minkus stated.

"Well, I think I'm right. I think in about five seconds, Feeny walks in here takes a sip from the drinking fountain flicks his mustache, goes to the coffee machine sees me, and says, 'Good morning, Mr.Matthews. I trust you've done the homework'. Every day the same thing. He's so predictable."

Mr. Feeny came in, takes a sip from the drinking fountain, flicks his mustache and as he walked by, looked to Cory. "Good morning, Mr. Matthews. I trust you've done the homework."

I raise my eyebrows. Not bad.

"Yes, I did, sir." This time they say in sync. "But my little sister ate it."

"You are so predictable," Mr. Feeny told him before walking away.

"He's not wrong," I tell Cory.

***

In class, Mr. Feeny was up at the board.

"This Week in Social Studies we'll be talking about prejudice," Mr. Feeny announced.

"Good, 'cause I'm prejudiced against the scungy food in the cafeteria," Cory said.

I smile, I agreed. I reach my hand out as did Shawn as we both got high fives.

"We will be discussing black slavery in the American South," he said, handing out books to the front of the rows. "The Jews in Nazi Germany and several examples of prejudice throughout history. Tonight your assignment is to read the first 30 pages of that book."

The Diary of Anne Frank.

"Aw, man, it's a book about some girl," Cory commented as the class bell rang.

***

I went home to read the book, I was only in on twelve pages and Zack was reading a book right next to me when Mom came home.

"Hello, my kids," Mom greeted.

"Hi," me and Zack greeted.

"How was your day?" I ask.

She removed her dirty waitress apron. "Oh, very messy," she answered. "I had to pick up a milkshake off the floor that a two year old dropped, but the worst of it was that Rafael is thinking about having his waiters and waitresses serve on roller blades and skates."

"What's so bad about that?" Zack asked as Mom sat down with a sigh.

"Last time I was in skates, I was eleven and broke my nose falling," Mom answered.

"Ouch," I say.

"What about you two? How was your day?"

"Mr. Feeny wants us to read thirty pages of this," I show her the cover of the book.

"The Diary of Anne Frank. Huh. I remember reading that when I was your age."

"What's it about?"

"Can't tell you," Mom said, standing up. "The book is very sad, but good."

"I'm reading this," Zack showed his book, Cat In The Hat.

"Huh," Mom said. "I read that when I was in 7 years old."

"I'm just fours past that," Zack said.

As Mom walked in the kitchen, she called back. "Your book is upside down."

Zack looked at his book and said, "I...like it upside down."

I hum in disagreement as I went up to my room.

***

In class, Mr. Feeny was sitting in Cory's seat as Cory stood beside him. "Now, I'm really in charge," Cory said. "You're not going to call the bet off if I do things a teensy bit different from the way you would?"

"We made a bet, Mr.Matthews," Mr. Feeny stated. "It's your class. They are your minds to mold."

"Cool!" Cory said before going up to the front. "Good morning, class. For the rest of the week I'm going to be your Social Studies teacher."

"Mr. Feeny?" Minkus piped up. "What's going on?"

"Don't ask me," Mr. Feeny answered. "He's the man in charge."

I look to Shawn. "Uh-oh."

"That's right, Minkus, my boy," Cory said. "Me. I'm your new teacher, and my name is..." He went up to the chalk board, scribbling two words. "Hey Dude." He looked to Mr. Feeny. "That all right with you George?"

Oh, wow. Really pushing it, Cor.

"Mi cLase es su cLase," Mr. Feeny responded.

"And you guys know that rule about no baseball caps in class? History!"

"Yeah!" Me and Shawn cheer as I pull out my Phillies cap.

Topanga raised her hand. "Yeah, Topanga," Cory said.

"If we're going to eliminate the cap rule can we also discard the dress code in its entirety?" Topanga asked.

"Why? You're not thinking about showing up like, naked tomorrow, are you?"

"No. Although I find nothing shameful about nudity. I was thinking about wearing garments from cultures more in tune with the goddess. A sari, perhaps, or a pareo."

"Yeah, fine,' Cory agreed. "As long as you're covered up."

"People, people, people," Minkus called. "Are we going to do our Social Studies work today?"

"Minkus, Minkus, Minkus," Shawn mocked. "Shut up.'

Okay, guys," Cory spoke up. "For homework tonight read the first 30 pages in whatever that book was that George assigned us yesterday."

"But that was the assignment last night," Minkus objected.

'Minkus! Not long ago, I was a student myself and I remember that sixth-graders don't always do their homework so this way, everyone gets a second chance."

"Excuse me, Mr. Hey Dude, but I did my homework."

"Minkus, get a life. That's your homework assignment. Get a life."

I will actually laugh if he actually follows through with that...assignment.

***

Cory went to me and Shawn the next day. "Look, you have to help me get the class back under control."

"Hey, you're the one who let it get out of control," Shawn said.

I sigh. "Shawn's right," I speak up. "The first day you should've taken control."

"Well, you're the ones playing poker with Feeny," Cory jousted.

"Lighten up, man," Shawn told him. "You're starting to sound like a teacher." Shawn looked to me once Cory walked away. "Can you believe him?"

"Not really," I answer. "He always comes to us for help."

The bell rang and as I sat down, Topanga placed a weird pillow on the floor. "Topanga, what are you doing?" Cory questioned.

"Moving my desk out of the way," she answered. "I've decided I'd rather sit on a traditional yoga cushion."

As Minkus moved his desk, Cory groaned, "Oh, come on, Minkus, don't tell me you want to sit on a yogurt cushion!"

"Yoga, Cor," I correct.

"Whatever, Betty," he replied.

"No. You told me to get a life," Minkus replied to Cory. "Now I'm going to be as fun as the next guy."

He started bouncing on a ball. And like I said, I laughed.

"Okay," Cory sighed. "I know things got a little loose here yesterday, but we've got a test day after tomorrow and it's time to get down to business."

I was listening, but Shawn kept tugging on my hair and poking my side. I had enough and started doing the same, but both of us were laughing as we kept trying to defend ourselves from one another.

"Let's start With the roll call," I heard Cory say, grabbing a clipboard. "Lawrence, Topanga."

"I'm channeling," she replied. "I will only answer to the name..." She sounded like she growled out something.

Shawn pulled my hair again. "Shawn!" I yell then getting up and sitting on his desk, swatting at him.

"Okay. Present, but not all here," I heard Cory say. "Hunter, Shawn." Shawn was still swatting at my hands. "Hunter, Shawn," he repeated walking towards us.

"Out of my face," Shawn told him. "I'm trying to fight off Betty." I took the moment to poke him in the side, making him jump. "Hey!"

"Fine. Cooper, Elizabeth," Cory called out. I kept fighting with Shawn. "Cooper, Elizabeth."

"You already know I'm here, Cory!" I yell as Shawn grabbed my hands, and we kept pushing each other back and forth like they do in a chicken fight.

"Hey. Where's Mr. Feeny?" Cory questioned. "I mean, George."

I glance away from Shawn to see Mr. Feeny enter in a Phillies baseball jersey and cap. Even Shawn stopped. "Hey, dude," he said. "Sorry I'm late. I was chillin' with my homies." I slide off the desk as Mr. Feeny say down at the one in front of Shawn. "I'm in," he told Shawn who fixed his hair and got out some cards.

"Me too," I spoke up.

Cory looked to Shawn. "Minkus, this is Social Studies. Stop making those paper turkeys."

"They're flamingos," Minkus replied. "And quit calling me Minkus. You call everyone else by their first name so start calling me Stuart."

I see your Juicy Fruit and I raise you a Chiclet," Mr. Feeny betted.

***

At home...

I kept reading that book Mr. Feeny gave us because I felt bad for Cory in class today.

Mom came in my room. "Still reading that book, Elizabeth?" Mom pointed out. Not looking up, I nod. "How many pages have you read so far?"

I look at the bottom. "262. This book is sad," I answer.

"I thought you were on just page 60 last night."

"I was," I answer. "But I felt bad for Cory and read more than I was suppose to."

"How did you feel bad?"

"Cory was our teacher for yesterday, today and tomorrow. No one was listening to him today."

"Oh," was all mom said.

"Since I'm pretty close towards the end of the book, what happened to Anne and her family and all those people, mom?"

Mom sighed. "Anne's family were arrested by the Nazis and brought to concentration camps. Do you know what those are?" I nod silently. "The whole family except for the dad was gone. That's how Anne's diary got published. What I find terrible is that how many people, parents, children were killed just because of their religious beliefs."

"It's horrible," I speak up, having no words.

"Are you going to continue reading?"

I lean back against the headboard. "Yeah, I mean I'm almost finished with it anyways."

Mom stood up. "I'm going to bed." She pressed a kiss to my head. "Goodnight, Elizabeth."

"Night, mom," I tell her as she left my room. Once she was gone, I look back to my book, turning to the next page. One quote caught my eye instantly:

 "It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart..."

***

The next day, Cory came into class wearing a suit and tie. "Hey, Mr. GQ. Nice neck wear," Shawn told him.

"Excellent Windsor knot," Minkus complimented. "Did your mom tie it?"

Cory called, "Minkus-Stuart, I need your help. You're the smartest kid in class and maybe if you pay attention to me some of the other kids will."

"Why should I help you? You made fun of Mr. Feeny and said he gets paid too much."

Mr. Feeny came in. Hey, dude." He looked at Cory. "Ooh, that suit. It's not cool."

Cory started, "Class, I'd like to talk to you today about prejudice and how it still exists in today's world." I was listening to what Cory had to say. "I didn't even know that till last night when I saw a real smart, totally cool Asian girl crying her eyes out because some idiot at the mall called her a bad name." I saw even Mr. Feeny turn around. "My lesson for today is that when people treat other people badly because of their skin color or their religion or where they come from then real smart, totally cool people can really suffer."

"Hey, George, this isn't gum. These are Rolaids," Shawn pointed out causing me to nudge him.

"Deal me out of this one, Mr. Hunter," Mr. Feeny said.

"What? Why?" 

"Okay. You win," Cory told Mr. Feeny ready to walk out. "I'm a crummy teacher, and I resign."

I stop him from leaving the classroom by grabbing his suit sleeve. "Cory," I say. "I'm listening to what you have to say, Mr. Feeny was starting to. Don't give up just yet."

He smiled at me. "Thanks, Betty," he replied. He walked over to our other best friend. "Hey, Shawn, before your mother got married what was her name again?" 

"Cordini," Shawn answered, not looking away from his stack of cards.

"Cordini," Cory repeated. "So, that would make you a wop, right?"

Everyone stopped what they were doing as Shawn slowly got out of his desk, standing in front of Cory. I stood up too to make sure Shawn didn't do something he might regret. "What did you call me?" Shawn questioned. 

"You heard what I called you," Cory replied. 

Shawn looked to Mr. Feeny. "Did you hear what he called me?"

"I heard what he called you," Mr. Feeny answered. 

Shawn gaped. "What are you going to do about it?" 

"He's the teacher. What are you going to do about it?"

Shawn turned back to Cory, shoving him. "I'm gonna knock his head off!"

I grab his shoulder, pulling him back slightly. "Shawn..."

"What if you couldn't?" Cory told him. "What if you couldn't do anything about it?"

"What?" Shawn questioned. 

"What if you lived in a country where I could kill you just because of your mom's last name?"

"Cory, what are you talking about?"

Cory walked past him. "A 15-year-old girl is dead! Doesn't anybody care?"

"Cory..." Shawn trailed off. 

"She was real smart and totally cool." Cory showed the cover of the book we are reading. "She wrote this book. Her name Was Anne Frank. They say she died of typhus, but they killed her because her name was Anne Frank. Anne Frank was a victim of antisemitism."

"Anti-Semitism," Mr. Feeny corrected. 

"Thank you, Mr. Feeny. You have to read this book and you have to pass this test not because of me but because when someone calls someone else a bad name it's not good that just that one person jumps up.We all have to jump up." Cory walked to the front of the class, opening the book. "'In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart'," he read the quote I remembered from last night. 

***

A week later, me and Cory met up at my house to study for math.

"Let me just say, Cor," I speak up. "That your lesson on Anne Frank was amazing."

He smiled. "Thanks, Betty."

I nod with a hum. "You should really consider becoming a teacher."

Cory shook his head. "No way. I wouldn't want to teach kids for the rest of my life as a career."

"Yeah, I wouldn't to either," I add, quickly. "So now that you're buddies with Mr. Feeny, would you happen to know my grade on the test?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," he stated. "You got a good grade...as always."

"A B?"

"Go higher."

I raise my eyebrows. "A ++."

"Whoa," Cory stopped me. "Not on Minkus's level of high."

"An A?"

"Yeah, you did good, Betty."

"Well, I had an awesome teacher," I tell him.

***